Mother’s Day (J.B. Priestly)

Summary and Analysis of “Mothers Day”

Introduction: “Mother’s Day” is written by J.B. Priestley in 1953. This is a satirical play on the modern society’s approach towards mothers. This play is humors representation of a housewife

in a family. This play depicts the plight of mother who works hard from morning to evening butno one appreciates her. The family members do not recognize mother’s services for them,

without care of herself. 

 Imp. Characters:  Mrs. Anne Pearson (Mother), George Person (Son), Doris Person (Daughter), Cyril Person (Father), Mrs. Fitzgerald (Neighbor).

Summary: As depicted by the title “Mother’s Day” the whole play revolves around the Mother ‘Mrs. Pearson’. The Mother is the main and central figure of the play. The play depicts the plight of the mother in sarcastic way. The mother is not treated well by her children and husband. Her neighbor and friend ‘Mrs. Fitzgerald’ helped her with the help of magic spell. The magic spell interchanges them for time being. The family gets a lesson with the help of her new character. At the end of the play mother gets respect and regard from all family members.

Setting: The play starts in the living-room of the Persons’ house in London Suburb. When the curtain rises, the time is afternoon of an autumn. Two main characters of the play i.e. Mrs. Fitzgerland and Mrs. Pearson are discussing at a table. Mrs. Fitzgerald who is a fortune teller has been telling Mrs. Pearson’s fortune.

Introduction of about Characters: Annie is a nice and worried looking lady in forties. She is wife of George Person. She like other mothers cares her family but in return they didn’t care about her. Her main goal is to keep her family members happy on the sacrifice of her own happiness. George Person who is the husband of Annie is about fifty years old. He did not care about the emotions of his wife. Doris Person is the daughter of twenty years old. She has flown in live with Charlie Spence. Cyril is the son of the family and is like other members. He is a spoilt child and didn’t care his mother. Mrs. Fitzgerald is the neighbor of Person’s. She is talented lady and has knowledge of magic.

Theme: The theme of the play is that mother always sacrifices themselves for their family without expecting anything in return. The family members should also respect the mothers in all ways.

Glossary

Suburb: /ˈsʌbəːb/  An outlying district of a city, especially a residential one    

Muslin: /ˈmʌzlɪn/ Lightweight cotton cloth in a plain weave

Flurried: /ˈflʌrɪd/ Agitated, nervous, or anxious

Cockney: /ˈkɒkni/ Characteristic of cockneys or their dialect or accent

Dubious: /ˈdjuːbɪəs/ Hesitating or doubting.  

Complacently: /kəmˈpleɪsnt/  Marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies

Incisive:  To tell someone about a feeling, opinion, or aim by speaking or writing about it

Laconic:  /ləˈkɒnɪk/ Using very few words

Concussion: /kənˈkʌʃ(ə)n/  Temporary unconsciousness or confusion caused by a blow on the head

Blubbering: /ˈblʌbə/ Cry noisily and uncontrollably

Aggrieved: /əˈɡriːvd/  Feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated.

Stalk off: / stɔːk /To walk in a way that shows you feel angry or offended

Textual Questions of “Mothers Day”  by J.B. Priestley

Q1. Husband, sons, daughters should be taking notice of wives and mothers...’ remarks Mrs Fitzgerald. Does Mrs Pearson’s family take ‘notice’ of her? Discuss how she is treated by her husband and children?

Ans. In the play “Mothers Day” the main character or heroine Mrs Anne Perason suffers in her family. She sacrifices her life for the sake of family member but they didn’t even respect her. Her close friend and neighbor Mrs Fitzgerald when knows about the family understanding of her friend at her family. She remarks that Husbands, Sons, daughters should take notice of wives and mothers. Pearson was insulted and ignored by her all family members. She used to run after them all the time, paying attention to their needs and taking their orders as if she was the servant and not the mother. She would live her life at home for enjoyment of all family members. Her husband ‘Doris Person’ would go to the club for his enjoyment. Her only son ‘Cyril Person’ would go to the races to enjoy his life. Her daughter ‘Doris Person’ spends whole life with her lover.

  Mrs Pearson would be left behind even during night lonely sacrificing her life for people who never thought about her. Her family members should have been taking notice of her as mother or wife. They should not her order her like servant or treating her like dirt. However, as a wife and a mother, she should be given the due respect. She took care of everyone in the family on the sacrifice of her own life. Her friend and neighbor Mrs Fitzgerald succeeded in teaching a lesson to all family members. This statement of Mrs Fitzgerald is valid and the whole story revolves around the statement.

Q2.  Discuss Mrs Fitzgeralds role in the change that occurs in the Pearson household.

Ans. The role of Mrs Fiterzgerald is very pivotal in the whole play. She played an important role to change the life of her close friend and neighbor and friend.  Mrs Pearson who has been doing the entire house works in the house.  She cooks food, washes clothes and irons them.  She does not take care of her husband only but also of her adult children son and daughter. They do not do anything on their own.  Even if her daughter Doris needs clothes to go meet her boyfriend, she wants ironed by Mrs Pearson.

In short Mrs Person doesn’t seem to get respect and attention that she deserves from her children and her husband. One day her friend and close neighbor  Mrs Fitzgerald comes to know about her coition in family.  Mrs Fitzgerald asks Mrs Pearson to deal with her family firmly.  But Mrs Pearson cannot understand how because she was innocent. At this, Mrs Ferald tells her, that with the help of some Magic they can exchange their bodies. They join hands and transformation of their bodies takes place. In this way they are able to change the behavior and attitude of the family. So, we came to conclusion that Mrs Fitzgeralds played important role in the change that occurs in the Pearson household.

Q.3. Compare and contrast Mrs Person’s personality before and after she changes place with Mrs Fitzgerland.

Ans:  There is complete change in the personality of the Mrs Person after she meets with Mrs Fitzgerland. The play starts in the living-room of the Persons’ house in London Suburb. Mrs. Fitzgerald who is a fortune teller has been telling Mrs. Pearson’s fortune.

The play depicts the plight of the mother in sarcastic way. The mother is not treated well by her children and husband before she met Mrs Fitzgerland. Mrs. Fitzgerald who was her neighbor and friend helped her with the help of magic spell. The magic spell interchanges them for time being. The family gets a lesson with the help of her new character. At the end of the play mother gets respect and regard from all family members when she follows the instructions of Mrs Fitgerland. 

It is clear from the play that personality of Mrs Person changed completely when she met Fitgerland. There is difference of hell and heaven in her personality before and after she met Mrs. Fitzerland.

Q4. Comment on the ending of the play. Do you think the family has changed for good?

Ans: The play has good and suitable ending. The play ends with a complete reversal of the initial situation faced by Pearson. Mother is in cheerful mood at the end of the play. The family members treat her in good way at the end of the play. Her family members now look anxiously towards her. When she smiles, they feel much relieved and smile back at her. None of them is going out for the first time. She tells the members of the family what they should do. Instead of behaving nervously, she looks sharply at the family and asks if they have any objections. George is the first to yield. He agrees to do whatever she says. Still smiling, she suggests that they should have a nice family game of and then the children could get the supper ready.

We can come to conclusion that its ending is happy and complete. The ending shows that one should resisted for ones respect and regard. It theme is that we should respect one who works for us.

 

Compression

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Exercise 2

Choose the correct option:

1. How many years has Mrs. Fitzgerald spent in the East? a. 10 b. 12 c. 15 d. 20

2. Mrs. Fitzgerald says that changing back to her earlier self a. Is impossible c. is easier than changing into a new self b. Is difficult d. can only be done after a few weeks

3. When Mrs. Pearson talks about Charlie spence her tone is a. Condescending b. Approving c. Indifferent d. none of the above

4. Which of the following adjectives are used to describe George Pearson? a. Pompous b. Decent c. Slow d. all of the above

5. How does Mr. Pearson react when Mrs. Fitzgerald addresses him as George? a. He is surprised c. He is pleased b. He is angry d. He shows no reaction

6. 'Now all that's happened is that I've joined the movement, says Mrs. Pearson after the transformation. Which movement is she referring to?

a) Women's Liberation Movement b) Pacifist Movement c) Human Rights Movement d) None of the above

7. On weekends Mrs. Pearson's family expects that a) She will wait on them b) She will rest after a tiring week c) She will go visiting d) None of the above

8. George responds to his wife's changed behaviour with a. Anger c. Submission b. Surprise d. all of the above

9. Which of the following is true of Mrs. Pearson after the change?  a) She is elated and does not want to be her earlier self b) She is upset and wants to be returned to her earlier self

c) She is upset about her family but wants to carry on for a bit longer d) None of the above

10. Who seems to enjoy the changed state of affairs in the Pearson household the most?

a. Charlie Spence b. Mr. Pearson c. Mrs. Fitzgerald d. Annie Pearson

Exercise 3

Find the meaning of these expressions. Some of these words are used in the play. 

1. Barmy: Foolish, 2. Tiddly: Slightly drunk, 3. Clot: A foolish, 4. Rollin' rat: Close friend, 5. Fathead: A stupid person, 6. Yes-man: A weak person who always agrees,  with their superior at work, 7.Wingman: A pilot who flies behind and outside the leader of a flying formation, 8. Bumkin: An awkward or rustic 9. Big daddy: A boss, 10. Gold digger: Who wants to extract money,

11. Mad hatter: Crazy Person, 12. Schmuck: Foolish man, 13. Klutz: awkward person, 14.Party pooper: A person who throws gloom over social enjoyment, 15.Big mouth: To have habit of speaking incessantly, 16.Piecan: A stupid person

Exerxise-4

Given below are a few idioms and phrasal verbs used in the play. Match them with their meanings.

1. To put one's foot down: to adopt a firm policy when faced with oppression, 2.Easier said than done: a task that looks easy to complete, but is not done to start doing something quickly. 3.To get cracking: to start doing something quickly.  4. To be at sixes and sevens: in a state of total confusion or disarray.  5. Tick off: to speak severely to someone who did wrong, 6.To be off one's chump: to be extremely silly or stupid, 7.To feel off-colour: to feel slightly ill, 8.To eat out of someone's hand: to be under someone's control, 9.To put someone in place: to humiliate or deflate someone. 10.To act one's age: to behave in accordance with one's expected level of maturity.

Exercise 5

Look of these adverbs of manner from the play. Give their antonyms.

1. Dubiously: Approvingly, 2. Complacently:  Unsatisfactorily, 3. Indignantly: Delightfully, 4. Sulkily: Cheerfully, 5. Aggressively: Assertively, 6. Coldly: Happily, 7. Promptly: Presently, Slowly, 8. Glumly: Joyfully, 9. Briskly: Slowly, 10. Contentedly: Unwillingly.

Exercise 6

S. No	Adverb	Noun	Adverb	Verb
1.	Bewilderedly	Bewilderment	Bewildered	Bewilder
2.	Embarrassingly	Embarrassment	Embarrassed	Embarrass
3.	Severely	Severity	Severe	Sever
4.	Indignantly	Indignation	Indignant	Indignation
5.	Promptly	Prompter	Prompt	Prompt
6.	Alarmingly	Alarmist	Alarming	Alarm
7.	Contentedly	Contention	Contented	Contest
8.	Aggressively	Aggression	Aggressive	Aggress
9.	Anxiously	Anxiety	Anxious	Anguish
10.	Sharply	Sharpness	Sharp	Sharpen

 

Exercise 7

Given below are some common words from the world of supernatural phenomena. Fill in the blanks using the most appropriate one.

1. An object thought to have magic powers and bring good luck talisman.

2. Esoteric doctrines of religious and meditative rituals associated with some religions tantra.

3. Root of a plant associated with superstitious practices and magic rituals mandrake.

4. A female spirit who heralds the death of a family member by wailing or shrieking banshee.

5. A religion derived from African polytheism and ancestor worship Voodoo.

6. A person having access to the world of spirits Shaman 7. Associated with Jewish mysticism cabbala.

8. The performance of miracles thaumaturgy.

9. The process of communicating with the dead necromancy.

10. A magical incantation abracadabra.

Exercise 8

Change the following exchange between Cyril and his mother into indirect speech.

CYRIL (briskly): Hello Mum. Tea ready?   MRS PEARSON: No CYRIL (moving to the table, annoyed): Why not?  MRS PEARSON (coolly): I couldn’t bother. CYRIL: Felling off-color or something?   MRS PEARSON: Never felt better in my life.

Ans: CYRIL greeted MRS PEARSON and asked her if the tea is ready to which she replied that it is not. CYRIL asked the reason with annoyance. MRS PEARSON replied coolly that she could bother. CYRIL enquired if she was feeling ill or something and MRS PEARSON replied that she had never felt better in her life.

Exercise 9

Identify the type of sentence and use the correct punctuation mark.

1. How well she cooks? 2. Did Mina say anything to make you smile?  3. How well do you know him? 4. She is a successful anchor. 5. It is raining cats and dogs. 6. I want to become an astronaut. 7. She does not eat any vegetables. 8. Come at one.

Exercise 10

Change the following sentences (as directed) without changing their meaning.

1.Lavender smells very sweet. (Exc.)  How sweet Lavender smells! 2. I seem to have done something to offend you. (Int.) What I seem to have done to offend you?  3. The room should be cleaned. (Imp.) Clean the room. 4. What a pity they have not come! (Aff.) It is a pity that they have not come. 5. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. (Int.) Is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

 6.  Long time I heard from you! (Exc.) Long time I heard from you! 7. She looked this way and that. (Aff.) She looked this way and that. 8. How the room stinks! (Exc.) How bad the room sinks.

Exercise 11

Write ‘S’ against simple Sentence, ‘CP’ against compound Sentence and ‘CM’ against Complex Sentences.

1.He purchased a new book yesterday. (S), 2. I invited him, but he didn’t come. (CP),  3. Seema will give you the watch. (S) 4. They will lose the game if they don’t try harder. (CM)

 5. We shall pay them a visit soon. (S) 6. As the market was closed, I bought nothing. (CM) 7. The gardener plucked a rose and gave it to the visitor. (CP) 8. The children packed up before the bell rang. (CM)

Exercise 12

Here are some compound sentences. Find coordinating conjunction and the clauses in each.

1. I met a stranger and talked to him.  2. Sit still or else leave the classroom.  3. Ramiz threw the stone, but it missed the bird. 4. The lion is bold as well as fierce.  5. Behave or I will call your parents.

Exercise 13

Here are some complex sentences. Find the subordinating conjunction and clauses in each.

1. I couldn’t hear you because the television was on. 2. Handsome is as handsome does. 3. When the cat is away, the mice will play. 4. The bag which you are carrying is expensive. 5. I went for a run though it was drizzling.