CLASS NOTES

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

Subject: English

About the Playwright/ Play Background:

John Boynton Priestley (3 September 1894 – 14 August 1984) was an English novelist, playwright,
screenwriter, broadcaster and social commentator.
His Yorkshire background is reflected in much of his fiction, notably in ‘The Good Companions’ (1929),
which first brought him to wide public notice. Many of his plays are structured around a time slip (plot
device in which a person or group of people seem to travel through time by unknown means) and he went
on to develop a new theory of time, with different dimensions that link past, present, and future.
‘Mother’s Day’ (1950) is Priestley’s satirical depiction about the real status of women in the family.
Characters in the Play:

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 soft
voice 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 be
exploited.
Message- One must stand up for oneself
Genre- Satire
Textual Questions: (Use the suggested points to write your answers)

Q.1. This play, written in the 1950s, is a humorous and satirical depiction of the status of the
mother in the family.

i. What are the issues it raises?

Ans: status of women- taken for granted- does a thankless job- treated like an unpaid servant

ii. Do you think it caricatures these issues or do you think that the problems it raises are genuine?
How does the play resolve the issues? Do you agree with the resolution?
iii.
Ans: genuine- interspersed with humour and satire- resolution: not completely practical- resolves with
the help of magical powers from the East.

Q.2. If you were to write about these issues today what are some of the incidents, examples and
problems that you would think of as relevant?

Ans: domestic violence- underestimating the potential of women- unequal salary structures at work-
women’s security- conventional mindset about gender roles- minority as the decision makers etc

Q.3. Is drama a good medium for conveying social message? Discuss.

Ans: Yes- conveys message convincingly- audience can relate- creates awareness and arrives at a
resolution- relation to the text

Q. 4. Discuss in groups plays or films with a strong message of social reform that you have

watched. Ans: (Write yourself and discuss in your class)

Extra Questions

Brief Questions:
Q.1. How was the experience for the two women after the change of bodies?

Ans: The real Mrs Pearson (now Mrs Fitzgerald) had not enjoyed the experience as she had seen her
family being treated roughly and rudely by Mrs Fitzgerald. On the other hand, Mrs Fitzgerald had
enjoyed the experience, as she had been able to teach Doris, Cyril and George Pearson a lesson to value
Mrs Pearson.

Q.2. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice to Mrs Pearson after she had put back the family members
in their 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.3. 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 and
gather around Mrs Pearson as the play ends.

Q.4. 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.