CLASS NOTES

Class: XI Topic: ‘Mother’s Day’ by J. B. Priestley (Snapshots)

Subject: English

Characters in the Play:

• Mrs Annie Pearson (Mother to Doris and Cyril; pleasant but meek and submissive)
• Mr George Pearson (proud husband of Mrs Pearson)
• Doris Pearson (20 year old daughter)
• Cyril Pearson ( demanding son)
• Mrs Fitzgerald ( Mrs Pearson’s neighbour; strong willed and bold)

Summary:

Introduction of Mrs Annie Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald

Mrs Annie Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald are next door neighbours. Annie is a pleasant and nervous
looking woman in her forties. Fitzgerald is older and heavier with a strong personality. Annie has
a softvoice whereas Mrs Fitzgerald has a deep, throaty voice.
Mrs Fitzgerald is a fortune-teller. She has learnt this art from the East. She is reading Annie’s
fortune. She advises Annie to be strict and become the ‘boss’ in her family. Actually, Annie is not
treated well by her family. At present, Mrs Annie Pearson has been reduced to the status of an
unpaid domestic servant, who does all the work at home without even being requested for it or
being thanked later on.

Mrs Fitzgerald Outlines the Plan to Reform Annie’s Family

Mrs Fitzgerald is very angry at the way Annie is treated like a servant by her family. One day, she
suggests that they should temporarily exchange their personalities by using a magic spell that
she had learnt in the East. She takes Annie’s hand and chants some magic words. A
transformation takes place and the personality of Mrs Fitzgerald shifts into the body of Annie
and vice-versa.
Annie is scared, but Mrs Fitzgerald assures her that the change is reversible. Mrs Fitzgerald, now
in the body of Annie, stays at Annie’s house and sends Annie (in Mrs- Fitzgerald’s body) to her
house where she can relax.

Doris Gets a Shock

Doris, the daughter of Mrs Annie Pearson, a beautiful girl aged 20, enters the house. She gets
shocked at seeing her mother smoking and playing cards alone. Doris asks about her yellow dress,
but her mother does not respond. She asks for tea and her mother answers rudely, telling her to
iron her dress herself and make tea if she wants to. Doris gets angry, but gets a good scolding
from her mother. Then Annie makes fun of Doris’ boyfriend, Charlie Spence, for having buck teeth
and being stupid. She tells Doris frankly that at her age she would have found somebody better
than Charlie Spence. This strange behaviour is too much for Doris and she goes out of the room
crying.
Cyril also Gets a Shock
Cyril, Annie’s son, enters the house and asks for tea in a demanding tone. Annie tells him that she
has not bothered to get tea ready. Cyril asks her if everything is all right with her. She replies that
she has never felt better in her life. When Cyril enquires why she has not got the tea ready, Annie
replies that she wanted a change and that’s why she has not bothered to make tea. Cyril
announces that he is short of time, so she should get the tea ready immediately.
Cyril further enquires whether she has got his clothes ready. When she says no, he gets annoyed.
He asks his mother what will happen if they all talked like that. Annie coldly replies that all three of
them always talked to her like that, so what was wrong with her talking in the same tone. She says
that if he does not want to do anything at home, he doesn’t have to.

The argument between Doris and Mrs Annie Pearson

Doris appears on the scene wearing a shoulder wrap. Annie remarks sarcastically about her dress.
An argument starts between Doris and Annie. Doris comments that if she was looking awful, her
mother was solely responsible, as it was she who made her cry. Then Annie enquires if any strong
beer was left. Cyril is shocked to know that his mother wants to drink it. He is unable to understand
what is going on.

Discussion between Doris and Cyril about Mrs Pearson’s conduct

Both Doris and Cyril are filled with horror and shock at their mother’s behaviour. Both wonder
what has happened to their mother suddenly. Doris thinks that she got hit on her head by
something. She says that the manner in which their mother spoke hurt her the most and made her
cry. Both start giggling at the thought of what will happen if their mother keeps behaving in this
weird manner in front of their father.

Annie’s Remarks About Her Family

Annie remarks that it was high time they grew up. Doris then asked her if they had done
something wrong. Annie tells them that it is actually her children’s and her husband’s behaviour
that bothered her the most. They always came, asked for something and went without bothering
to know whether she wanted to go out or how she was feeling. She always does her best to keep
everybody happy but all three of them were not bothered about her. Annie also remarks that
while the three of them do a job of eight hours a day with two days off at the weekend, she goes
on working seven days round the clock. She warns them that on weekends, she will also going to
take two days off. Doris is really worried about what will happen if her mother takes a holiday on
weekends. However, Annie assures Doris that she would do some work on Saturday and Sunday
only when she is requested for it and thanked for whatever she does. She might go out for
weekends also as she was fed up of staying in the house for years together. None of them has ever
bothered to take her out.

Mr George Pearson is Shocked at his Wife’s Behaviour

Mr George Pearson now enters the house. He is about 50 years old and considers himself as a very
important person. He gets annoyed at his wife who is sipping beer when he enters. He tells her
that he does not want any tea as he has to go to the club for supper. The wife tells him that she
has not prepared any tea anyway. At this, George gets annoyed that his wife is not bothered
about him. Annie continues to rebuke him, telling him that he is not respected in the club where
he keeps going every day. She tells him that people at the bar in the club call him ‘Pompy Ompy
Pearson’ due to his self-important behaviour. George cannot believe what Annie says and
confirms the truth from his son, Cyril. Annie tells her son that sometimes it does people good to
have their feelings hurt. On hearing a knock, Cyril checks who it is and reports to Annie that it is
Mrs Fitzgerald at the door. Annie tells him to let her come in.

The Real Mrs Annie Pearson Returns

Mrs Fitzgerald (actually Mrs Annie Pearson) enters and finds Doris in tears. Her family continues
to get a scolding in front of her also. Mrs Annie Pearson (actually Mrs Fitzgerald) informs her that
she was putting everyone in their place. When Mr George Pearson shouts at his wife, she
threatens to slap his big, fat silly face.
Mrs Annie Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald Change Back to their Original Personalities
The real Mrs Annie Pearson (now Mrs Fitzgerald) gets really disturbed and wants everyone to
leave as she wants to talk in private with Annie (the real Mrs Fitzgerald). She tells Mrs Fitzgerald
that it is enough. She wants to change back and get into their true selves. Mrs Fitzgerald again
speaks some magic words and they again get back to their own selves. Mrs Fitzgerald says that she
enjoyed every moment in her changed personality. Annie remarks that she did not enjoy this
changeover. Mrs Fitzgerald wants Annie not to be soft on her family. She wants her to remain
firm.
Annie says that she will be able to manage her husband and children now. Mrs Fitzgerald warns
her not to give any apology or explanation, otherwise they will again start treating her
indifferently. She must wear a tough look and talk to them rudely if she wanted them to behave
in the right manner. For a change, when Annie smiles, her family members smile back and feel
very relaxed. As they had cancelled their going out Annie feels that they all as a family should play
a game of rummy. She also asks her children to prepare supper for the family, for which they
readily agree. She also wants to have a talk with George, her husband, for which everybody
agrees. The play ends on a happy note where the children and husband are willing to do whatever
Mrs Annie Pearson suggests.

Other Important Elements:

Themes- Status of women in the family, importance of prioritizing oneself, not allowing
oneself to beexploited.
Message- One must stand up for oneself
Genre- Satire

Q.1. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice to Mrs Pearson after she had put back the family
members intheir proper place?

Ans: Mrs Fitzgerald advised Mrs Pearson not to be soft and waste all the effort she had put in to
change the attitude of her family for the better. Mrs Pearson is unsure how she would explain her
behaviour. But Mrs Fitzgerald warns her not to yield.

Q.2. What was the change that came over the Pearson family in the end?

Ans: When Mrs Fitzgerald left, Mrs Pearson’s family was relieved to see her smile. Mrs Pearson
decides to stay home for a family game of rummy and have the children prepare dinner. They
readily agree andgather around Mrs Pearson as the play ends.

Q.3. What were the two slips that could have let out the real identity of Mrs Fitzgerald?

Ans: Mrs Fitzgerald, in her nervousness, addresses Mr Pearson, as George. Mr Pearson is

surprised to be called thus, but Mrs Pearson covers up for Mrs Fitzgerald. Later, when Mrs
Fitzgerald attempts to slap George, following an argument, the real Mrs Pearson exclaims and
calls out to her, ‘Mrs Fitzgerald’, which confuses George.