Mother’s Day Class 11th is written in the form of a play by J.B.Priestly and shows how a mother’s efforts are ignored by her own family. It also reveals that the mother’s work and her efforts to make the house of bricks a home are ignored and looked down upon. She is always taken for granted. It also focuses on how her friend Mrs. Fitzgerald, a fortune teller, helps her earn her own respect in the family.
Mother’s Day About The Author
J.B. Priestley was born on 13th September 1894 in the UK. he was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, etc and his notable works are An Inspector Calls, Dangerous Corners When we are Married, etc. through this play, he wants the readers to understand how much a mother works for her family and still does not get any kind of respect and everybody wants her for granted.
Mother’s Day Summary Class 11th Central Theme
The play revolves around a mother who takes help from her friend to earn respect in her own family. The author brings out and tells that how a mother is not treated well by her own husband and children and she has to take the help of a third person to earn what she deserves. With the help of her neighbor friend Mrs. Fitzgerald, she exchanges roles and stands up for her rights.
Mother’s Day Characters sketch
- Mrs. Fitzgerald- She was Mrs. Annie Pearson’s neighbor and a fortune teller. She was a lady with strong determination and helped Annie to stand and earn respect from her husband and children. She tries and succeeds in revamping the characters of her family.
- Mrs. Annie Pearson– She was a pleasant woman but felt nervous at times. Her excessive love and care have spoiled her own family and she has lost her self-confidence in the way to fulfill her family’s wishes. Now she wishes to take a stand of her own and earn respect and work for her feelings.
- Doris Pearson– She was around twenty and Annie’s elder daughter. She never contributes to household work and doesn’t care about herself. She had an affair with Charles Spence.
- Cyril Pearson- He is Annie’s son and never sympathizes with her and never cares to do anything for her. He was equally demanding and also needs to change his attitude towards her mom.
- Mr. George Pearson– He was the better half of Annie but never cares to understand or respects his wife’s feelings. He dominates the house, but he was mocked in the club by his friends.
Mother’s Day Summary Class 11th
Mrs. Annie Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald are neighbor friends but are very different in nature. Annie is a pleasant woman and she is in her forties. She looks a little bit nervous and despite taking care of her family, she didn’t get respect and love in return. On the other hand, her neighbor was a lady of a strong personality and broad-minded. She is older than Annie. Annie has a soft voice whereas Fitzgerald has a very heavy voice.
Mrs. Fitzgerald has learned the art of fortune-telling from the east. And she advises Annie to be more specific with her family in terms of her rights and respect.
She advises her to be the boss of the family and take command of the house. Annie was not treated well by her husband and her children. She was just working day and night like a servant of the family who does not get any pay for this 24 hrs service.
Mrs. Fitzgerald makes a plan to change her family’s attitude toward her. So, she suggested changing their personality by using a magic spell.
She took Annie’s hand, spoke some magic spells, and exchanged their personality. Annie got scared a little bit but Fitzgerald told her that we exchange into our own later on. Now, Annie moves to Fitzgerald’s house and relaxes there.
When her elder daughter entered the room she was left flabbergasted when she saw her mom playing cards and smoking.
Dorris asked her for her yellow dress but she didn’t reply and continued in her own world. She then asked her to make tea. She also told her to iron her dress herself and make tea on her own. She also made fun of her boyfriend and left Dorris in tears.
As soon as Cyril entered the house and demanded tea angrily. The mother does not respond and says she is not at all bothered to do so. Cyril replied that he cannot make it on his own so requested her, mother was not in a mood to do any work.
Then Cyril asked for his clothes, that also she replied that she has not done her clothes ready. Cyril got angered and asked her for her behavior and tone.
The mother replied that all three of them also talked with her in the same tone so now why they all are feeling bad. Further, she said that she has become a member of the union and gets what she deserves the best.
When Dorris enters wearing a shoulder strap, mother taunts her and both of them argue. Cyril was left shocked when her mother(Annie) demanded beer for a drink. He was not able to understand what was going on in the house that day.
Now both Dorris and Cyril are left in shock and discuss her mother’s behavior. Both of them giggled in between the conversation when they thought about what will happen when their father will come.
Dorris asked her about their fault and Annie said that she was hurt by the family’s behavior towards her. It bothered her the most. The family never asked her about her feelings or what she wants. They all are using her for their work and care. In return, she always does those things that are best for him.
She told them that all of them get holidays and weekends to enjoy. But she continues her work seven days a week without even thinking about holidays and enjoyment. On top of it, the family is never grateful or thankful for her. They are always taking her for granted.
Now, she also wanted to take off for two days. She also wished to go out as no one took her or asked her. Dorris was shocked when their mother asked for holidays on weekends.
When Mr. George entered and was annoyed with Annie as she was sipping beer. He was about 50 years old and considered him very important. He just told her that he will have supper at the club. The wife told that she has not made tea at all and to this George was annoyed as she was not bothered about him.
After that, Annie retorts to him about why he goes daily to the club when everyone laughs at him. She told me that he was called Pompyompy Pearson at the club. George was shocked at her behavior and the tone she was using in front of her. So, he confirms her with his son, Cyril.
Annie said that sometimes we have to be sadistic and hurt feelings only then the person realizes. On hearing a knock at the door, Annie told Cyril to open and let Mrs.Fitzgerald enter.
Real Annie enters the house and finds that her daughter was crying very badly. Mrs. Fitzgerald was scolding them in front of real Annie also. When George threatens her, she also retorts and threatens him that she will give a slap on her big fat face.
Real Annie was feeling sad to see all this and wanted everyone to leave as she wanted to talk with Mrs. Fitzgerald(Annie). She told me that now she wants to be back at her place and stop this game at once.
Mrs. Fitzgerald was herself ready and spelled her magic words again to exchange and get back their roles. They both were happy as they enjoyed the whole day. Mrs. Fitzgerald told Annie to be firm in her attitude like this only and do not care to make an apology or give justification for her behavior.
After going back to her room when the family arrives she plans to play a game of rummy with them. She smiled and the family felt relaxed. The play ends on a happy note and Annie asked about what they would like to have for dinner. She also wants to have a conversation with her husband.
Mother’s Day Summary Question and Answers [NCERT Solutions]
Q 1. How are Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald contrasted?
Annie was very soft-spoken, pleasant in her attitude, she was in her forties and still never remains confident of her age. She does all the household work herself and remains at duty for her kids and her husband. On the other hand, Mrs. Fitzgerald was very strong-headed and has a very firm attitude towards everything. She drinks smokes and speaks in an Irish tone.
Q 2. “I’m much obliged,” says Mrs. J Pearson. What for does she feel obliged to and to whom?
Annie was very obliged to have a fortune teller living near her house.
Q 3. What fortune does Mrs. Fitzgerald predict for Mrs. Pearson?
She was very confident that Annie’s future was in her own hands and now she can only decide what she wants: a bad one or a good future ahead.
Q 4. What problem does Mrs. Pearson face? Who do you think is responsible for this state of affairs?
Annie gives her time only for her husband and family managing all the household chores single-handedly. In return, she was never asked about how she is feeling or what she wants. She remains beck and call for them. She has become like a servant for them doing work all the time. And also she was ignored by all of them every time.
Q 5. What course of action does Mrs. Fitzgerald suggest to Mrs. Pearson to tackle the situation?
Fitzgerald told her to stick to her decision and must grab her position with respect and enjoys her rights in the house. She should be the boss of all. But for all this to happen only she can take the initiative.
Q 6. What difficulties does Mrs. Pearson face while dealing with the various members of her family?
Annie told her that she loves her family so much that she cannot discuss her problems and needs with them. She is actually lacking the courage to ask for her rights and respect. She does not get it from where to start and what to do.
Q 7. “Then let me do it”, suggests Mrs. Fitzgerald. How does Mrs. Pearson react to it?
Fitzgerald knew how to teach them a lesson and she told Annie to let her do all the things hereafter. Annie refused and told her they all would resent but never understand.
Q 8. How does Mrs. Fitzgerald plan to deal with the family of Mrs. Pearson?
Fitzgerald suggested to her that she was planning to exchange places and teach them a lesson. After that, they both would get into their original roles.
Q 9. Why does Doris Pearson feel astounded on returning home?
Dorris was shocked to find her mother smoking and playing cards. She ordered her to make her tea and ironed her yellow dress and left again shocked when she did not respond to her query.
Q 10. How does Mrs. Pearson criticize Doris for going out with Charlie Spence?
Annie taunts her by criticizing her boyfriend and making fun of his buck teeth. She told Dorris that if she were of her age she would have made a better choice. She should stop going with him.
Q 11. Why is Cyril Pearson annoyed with his mother? Give two reasons.
Her son Cyril was annoyed at her because she had not prepared tea for him. He told her to be quick as he has to leave but was vexed with her when she refused.
Q 12. How do Doris and Cyril react to Mrs. Pearson’s query about stout?
They both were surprised at her behavior and asked for beer to drink. They both giggled also on thinking what would be the scene when their father returned.
Q 13. How does Mrs. Pearson teach her children to be responsible adults?
Firstly she gave them a good one about their lifestyle and reprimands them for giggling. When they boasted of doing a lot of work she also told them that she has completed her 8 hrs like them. She also demanded 2 days off on weekends.
Q 14. “I’ll hit you with something, girl, if you don’t stop, asking silly questions,” says Mrs. Pearson to Doris. Which ‘silly’ questions does she object to?
Doris asked this question as she was surprised that her mom wants off on weekends. Mrs. Pearson told that doing all these for you all is her business and she needs time off on weekends. After listening to this, Doris thought that she had hit herself and this mother warned him of asking silly questions.
Q 15. “Sometimes it does people good to have their feelings hurt.” Do you agree with Mrs. Pearson’s observation?
Mother has hurt the feelings of her husband and today she felt that sometimes it is good to hurt others and be sadistic. in my opinion, she is right as a person should fly high living in another world of its own.
Q 16. What forces the real Mrs. Pearson to conclude: “That’s enough, quite enough”?
When Fitzgerald in Annie’s role was being harsh with the family and Annie saw Doris crying very badly. She thought that was enough and they should turn back to their roles and she could handle further herself.
Conclusion
Through this play, we came to know the importance of a mother in everyone’s life and how a mother should be treated in a family. She should get equal respect and rights as she is the leading person who in every situation stands strong but needs a supporting and loving family.
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