Mothers day 1 mark Why is Mrs. Pearson always ordered about by her family members? Mrs.

Pearson is a docile and submissive mother. She never asserts herself. In fact she serves the family like a domestic servant. She never raises her voice and always tries to avoid any kind of unpleasantness in the house. What is the main idea of the play? Has the writer brought it out effectively? The writer has very effectively brought out the main idea of the play. The mother who is the central focus of any family should be given proper love, care, respect and understanding. The family learnt its lesson in the end and the play has a happy ending. 2 marks How are Mrs. Pearson and Fitzgerald contrasted? Both the ladies are in sharp contrast with each other. While Mrs. Pearson in passive docile, submissive and confused. She is also timid and soft spoken. Mrs. Fitzgerald is aggressive, dominating, sinister and bold. She has a deep voice. Mrs. Pearson is sick of being ordered about by her family. Why is she so hesitant to put her foot down? Mrs. Pearson loves her family a lot. At the same time she gets dominated by each of her family members. Her meek and timid nature prevents her from retaliating. Even though she drops a hint here and there, but no one really cares about her. When her neighbour Mrs. Fitzgerald asks her to be assertive, she doesnt have the courage to do so. How does Mrs. Fitzgerald plan to show the Pearsons their places? Mrs. Fitzgerald had learnt some magic during her few years stay in the east. She offers to exchange her personality with Mrs. Pearson for some time. While she will look like Mrs. Pearson, she would still be able to use her domineering nature to show the Pearson family their place. This plan was a temporary arrangement. Who is Charlie Spence? How does Mrs. Pearson talk about him to Doris? Charlie Spence is Doriss boyfriend. They had planned an evening out together. After undergoing change in personality tells Doris that Charlie is dull headed, foolish and has bucked teeth. She advises her to find a better man to go out with. What plans does Mrs. Pearson have about her work in the future? Mrs. Pearson declares that she had joined a Mothers Movement. She had decided to work for only forty hours a week like workers in their places of work. She would even go out on weekends to amuse herself and take a break from the family. What do Doris and Cyril think about their mothers sudden change in the behaviour? Both Doris and Cyril are utterly confused and bewildered at their mothers strange behaviour. They have never seen her smoking, drinking, playing cards and speaking in such a strange and sarcastic manner. They think that she has hurt her head and is suffering from a concussion. How does the end of the play justify the title? Mrs. Pearson being a weak person was taken for granted by her family. They dominated her a lot and did not care for her feelings. But in the end she winds when Mrs.

Fitzgerald takes over for sometime and is able to get the respect that Mrs Pearson deserves. She has her day. What advice does Mrs. Fitzgerald give Mrs. Pearson regarding being the boss in her family? Mrs. Fitzgerald tells Pearson to become the mistress of her own house. She should not allow herself to be dominated by others. Her family should learn to treat her with respect. Why does Doris say Mum whats the matter with you?? Doris returns home to find that the mother has not got the tea ready. Her clothes are not ironed. The shock comes when the mother tells her to iron her dress herself as she was planning to go to Clarendon for a meal. This behaviour shocked Doris. How does Mrs. Pearson express her disapproval of Charlie Spence? The mother ridiculed Charlie Spence about his buck teeth and said that he was half witted. She herself would have found someone better for herself at Doris age. Mrs. Pearson says, ..Ive joined the movement. What does she mean? Mrs. Pearson says this to Cyril, her son. She told him that just as he wouldnt like to do anything that he doesnt want to do when he was at work, she too would not do anything if she didnt like to. She would also join the movement of Union to bar what she doesnt want to do. What is Doris reaction when Mrs. Pearson says she will work for only forty hours a week? Doris was shocked at the answer. She also wondered where her mother would go away for the weekend. She thought her mother had gone crazy because of an accident or a hit on the head. Doris says, youll see to her father. What does she mean? Doris was crying when her father returned from work. When he asked her the reason, she spoke these words to tell him about her mothers peculiar behaviour. She also told him that mother had refused to do any work for anyone and was also talking rudely. What does Mrs. Pearson tell her husband about her visit to the bar? George got a rude shock when his wife had not prepared tea for him although he had first said that he hadnt wanted any. But he was annoyed when he found that tea wasnt ready. She asked him if he had ever shouted at the bar for not giving something he had not wanted. What advice does Mrs. Fitzgerald give to Mrs. Pearson after they change back personalities? She advises Mrs. Pearson not to give any explanations. She tells her to be assertive and give them a tough look or a rude tone occasionally. How does the Pearson family finally spend the evening? The evening was finally spent in the way Mrs. Pearson had always wanted. The children helped to prepare dinner. She could play rummy and chat with her husband. She was a happy and contented woman now. This is a humorous play with many humorous situations. Which situation did you enjoy most?

The play indeed is very humorous. But the funniest moment was when Mrs. Pearson (or Mrs. Fitzgerald) insults and humiliates her husband George by telling him what they thought of him at the club. She even told him the nickname 'Pompy - Ompy Pearson', with which he was called at the club, behind his back. 7 marks Bring out the humour of the play. The dramatist has combined a serious theme with some comical concept of the magic trick which ensures that the theme of the play is effective in a very humorous manner. Despite being a sinister and aggressive character, Mrs. Fitzgerald is the one that evokes maximum laughter. The way in which she scolds rebukes and mocks at each family member is an effective source of laughter. When she assumes Mrs. Pearsons form and challenges the children with sarcasm and bitter jest, the two rude and demanding children are forced to mend their ways. Her clever remarks and indignant out burst provide an element of humour throughout the play. During her conversation with George Pearson, she is harsh and offensive towards him. It is amusing in the way she reprimands a grown man. It is even more amusing as she points out flaws in each of the family members. All in all the deeper meaning of the play has been displayed through humour making it not only moralistic but entertaining as well. Mrs. Annie Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald are totally opposite to each other in their attitudes. Show the difference between their personalities. The play Mothers Day by J.B Priestley brings out a sharp contrast in the characters of the two main protagonists, Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald. Mrs. Pearson is shown as a quiet, submissive woman who thinks it to be her prime duty to serve her family. On the other hand, her family consists of rude, arrogant and dominating members each of whom treat her like a servant, ordering her about and talking rudely in the process hurting her sentiments and feelings. Mrs. Pearson suffers quietly, never speaks her mind and never retaliates all because she wants to avoid any kind of unpleasantness. Mrs. Fitzgerald, on the other hand is strong, domineering, frank and outspoken. She demands respect and takes pride in the fact that no one can take her for a ride. She has an identity of her own, speaks her mind and asserts herself. She is instrumental in bringing about a transformation in the family members of the Pearson family. She exchanges her personality with Pearson with the help of magic and then tackles her family members one by one. She openly insults, humiliates and offends them. She refuses to do any work. She rebels by smoking and drinking. All this was done to make them realise their mistakes and make them love and respect their mother. She succeeds in the end. Why did Mrs. Pearson made certain choices or took certain actions? Mrs. Pearson took certain choices or actions..... coz all the family members of her family was getting out of control...!! moreover they were neither respecting her nor have any sort of pathos for her they were only interested for getting their work done!! Summary This humorous and satirical depiction of a mothers status in a family was written way back in 1950 and till date stands quite true in cases of house wives. Unless and until she fights back for her rights her contribution is not recognized in the family. The characters in this play are Mrs. Annie Pearson (the mother); husband Mr. George Pearson., son Cyril, daughter Doris and the neighbour Mrs. Fitzgerald. Mrs. Fitzgerald knows tarot card reading which she had learnt while she was living in the east with her husband. She finds out that Mrs. Pearson does not get the due respect she should get from her family and advices her to take strong steps to be the mistress of her own house . Though Mrs. Pearson doubted herself if she will be able to follow her advice. She

didnt want any unpleasantness in her house .More over she didnt know when or how to put her point. Mrs Fitzgerald advised her to start that very day but Mrs. Pearson was reluctant as she wont be able to keep her promise. Mrs. Fitzgerald had an excellent idea. As she had learnt many magic in the east, she can change place with Mrs. Pearson i.e. Mrs. Pearson will have Mrs. Fitzgeralds mind and vice versa. They both held hands and sat on the table quietly. Mrs. Fitzgerald enchanted some magic words and their minds got exchanged. After Mrs. Fitzgerald with Mrs. Pearsons mind leaves for her house Doris arrives and sees s her mother smoking. She is shocked. She has an argument with her as now all of a sudden her mother is not ready to iron her dresses for the evening or prepare tea or even supper. Doris was horrified at her mothers attitude and runs away crying. After sometime Cyril appears from work and he too is flatly denied when he asks for tea. Cyril was alarmed and asks if she was feeling well or not? Then Mrs. Pearson takes out a bottle of stout and drinks. Both the siblings are astonished and start wondering if she has had a fall or hit her head. Now Mr. Person arrive and all three start complaining about tea not being ready as they had worked so hard for eight hours. to this Mrs. Pearson says that from that very moment she would also work for only eight hours a day and weekends off. Mr Pearson gets angry and get ready for club when Mrs. Pearson tell him that people at the club call him Pompy Ompy Pearson and laughs at him. He becomes very sad. Now Mrs. Fitzgerald with Mrs. Pearsons mind enters the house and seeing everyone sad asks to leave Mrs. Pearson and her alone for a few minutes and may be everything will be all right. On being alone Mrs. Fitzgerald enchants some magic words and again their bodies get back their mind but now Mrs. Pearsons family give her more respect and considers her likes and dislikes also Justify the title - It is appropriate because It highlights the mothers role in a family even when the children are grownup. She is taken for granted. Shows how mothers importance is re-established. That a women has some rights in the family Her husband & children should share her work The value of her work should be recognized. She has an important status in the family. Points Mrs. Fitzgerald tells Mrs. Pearson to be the mistress in her own house Put her foot down be the boss of her family The family should learn to treat her properly.