SUBJECT: ENGLISH

CLASS: XI
5. Mother’s Day Book: Snapshots
By - J.B. Priestly

Introduction
The play written by J.B. Priestly reveals how a mother’s efforts are ignored by her family. It narrates how
the family members who work eight hour shifts a day look upon her although she works for the whole day
and all week. After all she does for them, they take her for granted. They make her feel obligated to
provide for them and do not even appreciate her efforts. It revolves around how her friend Mrs Fitzgerald
who is a fortune teller helps her earn the place and respect she deserves as the woman of the house.
About the Characters
Mrs Fitzgerald: She is Mrs Annie Pearson’s neighbour. She is quite strong-willed, knows magic and
helps Mrs Annie Pearson to reform the spoilt members of Mrs Annie Pearson’s family.
Mrs Annie Pearson: She is a pleasant but nervous type of woman whose excessive love and care has
spoilt her two children and husband.
Doris Pearson: She is Mrs Annie Pearson’s daughter aged around twenty years. She fails to understand
her mother’s struggle and doesn’t help her in household work.
Cyril Pearson: He is Mrs Annie Pearson’s son who is equally demanding and never sympathises with his
mother.
Mr George Pearson: He is Mrs Annie Pearson’s proud husband who is not as respected in society as
expected. He dominates his wife, but he is ridiculed in the club where he is a member.

Summary
Introduction of Mrs Annie Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald
Mrs Annie Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald are next door neighbours. Apart from this, there is no similarity
between them. 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 speaks 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 projecting 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 and angry manner. 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 anguished. He
asks his mother what will happen if they all talked like she was talking that day. 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. She adds that she has become a
member of the Union so that she gets what she deserves.
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, it was due to
her mother only, 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 Starts between Doris and Cyril
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 ‘Pompyompy 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 Go 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. Let them 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.

Word-Meaning
portrayal – depiction
living-room – drawing-room
suburb – outlying area of a city
muslin-covered – covered with a muslin curtain
settee – sofa
sinister – strong
flurried – nervous and confused due to overwork
Cockney – style of speaking of people living in the East end of London
Irish – style of speaking of people living in Ireland
fortune teller – person claiming to have magic powers
out East – in the British colonies in Asia
Lieutenant Quartermaster – non-commissioned officer in British Army
put your foot down – be very strict
mistress – woman with authority
apologetically – as if feeling sorry
treating ’em like dirt – showing lack of respect
dubiously – in an unsure manner
unpleasantness – quarrelling
have it out – settle it finally
good gracious – an expression of surprise
embarrassed – feeling awkward
flustered – agitated
got the idea – understood me
gimme – give me
muttering – speaking in a low voice
go lax – looking like they are dead
puffing – smoking
complacently – feeling happy and satisfied
chuckling – laughing quietly
patience – a card game played by a single person
taken anything in – understood what is going on
astounded – surprised
fluttering – unsteady
square meal – full and satisfying meal
the Clarendon – name of a local restaurant
indignantly – with annoyance
rubbish – uselessly
be seen dead – like to be seen
buck teeth – upper set of teeth sticking out
half-witted – stupid
masculine counterpart – brother
off-colour – not feeling well
get cracking – work quickly
aggressively – forcefully
put my things out – lay out my clothes
staggered – shocked
laconic and sinister – briefly and meaningfully
wear that face – look so bad
Union – association of employees
bar – stop
movement – association of employees
never you mind – don’t bother
stout – strong beer
clot – idiot
in a huddle – come close together to talk
barmy – insane
fathead – idiot
concussion – serious injury to her head
far-fetched – unlikely
giggle – laugh in a silly manner
guffaw – laugh loudly
contempt – disgust
be your age – behave properly as per your age
do with – appreciate
a bit thick – unreasonable
airily – carelessly
aghast – horrified
passionately – with much emotion
blubbering – crying like a baby
solemn – formal and dignified
pompous – overbearing, self-important
bulge – stick out
fancied – feel a desire for
bewildered – confused, puzzled
distaste – dislike
aggrieved – feeling hurt
indignantly – in a displeased tone
standing jokes – permanent amusements
dazed – totally astonished
 appealingly – urgently requesting
gloomily – sadly
greyhound races – races run by tall, slender dogs
dirt tracks – racing courses for motorcycles
ice shows – entertainment shows performed by ice skaters
sulkily – showing an irritated feeling
old bag – unpleasant elderly woman
smacking – bringing together with force so they make a sound
ushering – bringing
piecan – stupid person
severely – strictly
glowering – angry
putting ’em in their places – making them behave properly
doing ’em all a world of good – helping them to learn how to behave properly
eating out of your hand – completely under your control
glumly – sadly
crying her eyes out – crying uncontrollably
at sixes and sevens – in total confusion
bitterly – angrily
intimidated – frightened
taunting – teasing
tiddly – slightly drunk
in despair – hopelessly
a flash of temper – sudden anger
ticking her off – reprimanding her
’cos – because
go soft on – treat gently
spirit – enthusiasm
apprehensively – anxiously
rummy – a card game
cluster round – surround

Questions and Answers

Question 1. Who is Mrs Fitzgerald? What does she advise Mrs Pearson?
Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald is Mrs Pearson’s neighbour and friend. A fortune teller, who had learnt the art
from the East, she tells Mrs Pearson that her fortune could turn either way. With effort and counsel, the
situation would swing in her favour. She advised her to assert herself as the boss of the house.
Question 2. What was Mrs Pearson’s reaction to Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice?
Answer: Mrs Pearson said that it would not be easy to put her family members in place as she was very
fond of them. She knew that they were thoughtless and selfish but felt, perhaps, they did not mean to be
so.
Question 3. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s opinion of Mrs Pearson’s attitude?
Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald said that Mrs Pearson’s family was undoubtedly spoilt. She felt that it was Mrs
Pearson’s attitude that did them no good, tending to their needs, taking their orders, and staying at home
every night while they went out enjoying themselves.
Question 4. What does Mrs Fitzgerald offer to do for her?
Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald sensed that Mrs Pearson was far too gentle, submissive and generous to tackle
her family. Mrs Fitzgerald offered to make them realize the error of their ways not as Mrs Fitzgerald but
as Mrs Pearson. She offered to change their bodies and change back again.”
Question 5. How did the two women react after their bodies were changed?
Answer: When Mrs Pearson looked down at herself in Mrs Fitzgerald’s body, she gave a scream of
fright. On the other hand, Mrs Fitzgerald is rather pleased and feels that the transition was so neat that she
did not even know that she had it in her.
Question 6. What is Doris’s first reaction on seeing her mother? Why?
Answer: Doris was taken aback to see her mother smoking and playing cards. When Doris asks her what
she was doing, she is startled to get her answer—‘whitewashing the ceiling.’ Moreover, her conduct was
not nervous and apologetic but cool and incisive.
Question 7. What did Doris want her mother to do? How did the mother react?
Answer: Doris wanted her to iron her yellow silk dress that she ‘must wear’ that night. She also wanted
her mother to make tea for her. She refused to get her tea and iron her dress, telling her that she put in
twice the hours Doris did but got neither wages, nor thanks for it.
Question 8. What does Mrs Pearson say to Doris that really bothered her?
Answer: Mrs Pearson asked where Doris would wear her yellow silk dress. She said that she planned to
go out with Charlie Spence. Mrs Pearson told her to find somebody better, and insulted Charlie Spence by
calling her buck-toothed and was half-witted.
Question 9. What does Mrs Pearson have to say to Cyril that shocks him?
Answer: When Cyril walk in and insists on her getting the tea and his clothes ready, he is stunned to hear
that she doesn’t ‘like mending’. She goes on to tell him that when he does not want to do something, he
does not do it. She planned to do the same. Cyril could not believe his ears.
Question 10. What do Doris and Cyril feel about Mrs Pearson’s changed behaviour?
Answer: Doris and Cyril discuss that there is something wrong with their mother as she is not behaving
in character. They discuss how Mrs Pearson behaved oddly with each of them. They try to fathom if she
had gone crazy or had a concussion.
Question 11. What is Mrs Pearson’s reaction to see her children giggling when she returns to the room?
Answer: Mrs Pearson asks them the reason for their amusement. Doris answers that she had never
understood their jokes. To which Mrs Pearson retorts, rudely, that she was bored at their jokes even
before they were born. Doris is tearful and Mrs Pearson blames them for being selfish about their needs.
Question 12. What reason does she give Cyril for not making the tea?
Answer: When Cyril again asks for tea as he had been working for an eight-hour day, Mrs Pearson
replies that she had done her eight hours and henceforth she would work only for forty hours a week. She
declared that she would have her two days off on the weekend.
Question 13. What, according to Mrs Pearson, were her plans for the weekends?
Answer: Mrs Pearson tells her children that at the weekend she would have her two days off. She agreed
to make beds and cook a little as a favour, conditional to how she was treated. Mrs Pearson tells her
children that in case they did not like the arrangement, she would go elsewhere for the weekend.
Question 14. Why was George Pearson surprised when he came home? What was the answer that he got?
Answer: Mr George Pearson was surprised to see Doris crying and was shocked to see Mrs Pearson
sipping beer. He said that it did not look right. Mrs Pearson replied that it was ‘a nice change’ and it had
been quite some time since he was surprised at her.
Question 15. What did Mrs Pearson say to her husband when he was angry with her for not making tea?
Answer: Mr Pearson informed Mrs Pearson that he did not want tea but grew angry at being told that tea
was not ready. She taunted him that if he went up to the bar at the club and refused a glass of beer and
showed irritation because they had not served it earlier, he would invite ridicule.
Question 16. What was the truth about Mr George Pearson that hurt him the most?
Answer: Mrs Pearson told George that that he was one of the standing jokes in the club. He was called
‘Pompy-ompy Pearson’ because they thought that he was slow and pompous. She was surprised that he
spent so much time at a place where people always ridiculed him, leaving his wife at home.
Question 17. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s reaction to Mrs Pearson shouting at Cyril? Why?
Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald was in reality Mrs Pearson, so when she saw Mrs Pearson (the real Mrs
Fitzgerald) shouting at Cyril, she protested as she was actually Cyril’s mother. But Mrs Pearson told her
not to interfere.
Question 18. What were the two slips that could have let out the real identity of Mrs Fitzgerald?
Answer: 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.
Question 19. How was the experience for the two women after the change of bodies?
Answer: 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.
Question 20. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice to Mrs Pearson after she had put back the family
members in their proper place?
Answer: 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.
Question 21. What was the change that came over the Pearson family in the end?
Answer: 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.
Long-answer Questions
1. Narrate the story of the play ‘Mother’s Day’ in about 120-150 words. Ans. The play ‘Mother’s Day’
depicts the status of the woman in a family. She is treated as a domestic slave, taking orders from her
husband as well as children. Mrs Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald are neighbours. They stand in sharp contrast
to each other. Mrs Pearson is a submissive wife and mother. She is unhappy with the treatment she gets
from her family. She discusses her problem with her neighbour. Mrs Fitzgerald is bold, liberated and an
aggressive woman. She knows the art of casting magic spells as well. She changes her personality with
that of Mrs Pearson. Then she stays on in Mrs Pearson’s house to deal with George, Doris and Cyril. She
sets them right and makes them see reason. She cuts them to size. They agree to do as Mrs Pearson
desires. The two women again become their old normal selves. The play ends on a happy note.
2. Write a note on the theme of the play Mother’s Day. Do you approve of the method adopted by Mrs
Fitzgerald? Elucidate. Ans. The theme of Mother’s Day is the low status of a woman in her family, and
how she deserves to be the boss of the house. This issue is common in every country. She is the weaker
sex. She is neglected. Her services are neither acknowledged nor paid for. Mrs Fitzgerald, the liberated
and strong neighbour of Mrs Pearson, shows the way. She enters her spirit into Mrs Pearson’s body and
spends a couple of hours in the neighbour’s house. She deals very harshly with all the family members.
George, Cyril and Doris—all of them are shocked and surprised at the changed behaviour of Mrs Pearson.
They give in at last to her wishes. Mrs Fitzgerald’s method proves very successful in solving the problem.
3. Give your brief comments on the five main characters in the play Mother’s Day. Ans. Mother’s Day is
a humorous and satirical presentation of a grim little family drama. It discusses the issue of the status of a
mother and wife in the family. The play has five characters in all. Mrs Fitzgerald is a strong woman,
aggressive and demanding. Her neighbour Mrs Pearson is just her opposite. She is given to serving her
husband and children. She makes no demands: she does not dare to displease anybody, but she resents
their behaviour inwardly. Her husband George is pompous, selfish and the centre of jokes at the club. Her
son Cyril is a young man and her daughter is Doris. Both are working in offices. They come home in the
evening, demand tea and ironed clothes so that they can go out again. All the three are self-centred. They
neglect Mrs Pearson who is all docile, motherly and submissive.
4. How does Mrs Fitzgerald passing for Mrs Pearson put Mr George, Doris and Cyril in their places? Ans.
Mrs Fitzgerald comes to the rescue of Mrs Pearson. She transfers her spirit into Mrs Pearson’s body and
gets ready to show all the three members their places. Her first target is Doris. She comes home demands
tea and orders the mother to iron her yellow silk. But she is astonished when her mother goes on smoking
and is planning to eat out at a restaurant. She gets such a rough treatment that she is all in tears. The next
target is Cyril. He also finds his mother cold and defiant. Both suspect that she has hit her head against
something. Mother chides them for whispering and laughing. George, as he enters the room, finds his
wife smoking, drinking stout and playing cards. He objects to all that but is told curtly to shut up. He is
told how the club members make fun of him behind his back. Thus, they all are made to realise how mean
and selfish they have been towards Mrs Pearson.
5. Compare and contrast the characters of Mrs Fitzgerald and Mrs Pearson. Who do you admire and why?
Page 196 of 230 Ans. Mrs Fitzgerald and Mrs Pearson make an interesting study in contrast. Mrs
Fitzgerald is strong, aggressive, liberated and domineering. She lives life on her own terms. She smokes,
plays cards and drinks stout. She can challenge anybody. She even jumps up to slap George. She runs
down Doris’ choice. She takes Cyril to task for wasting time and money on dog races and ice shows. Mrs
Pearson, on the other hand, is weak minded and docile. She does not dare to displease any member of her
family. She agrees with the way suggested by Mrs Fitzgerald but she is afraid of hurting the feelings of
the members of her family. Mrs Fitzgerald has a domineering personality while Mrs Pearson has pleasing
looks and nature and she is rather nervous. We certainly need more women like Mrs Fitzgerald, who can
stand up for their rights.