SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER Introduction of Mrs. Annie Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald Mrs. Annie Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald are next door Reighbo, Apart from this, there is no similarity between them, Annie . pleasant and nervous looking woman in her. forties, Fitzgerald older and heavier with a strong personality. Annie has Soft voi 5 whereas Mrs. Fitzgerald has a deep, throaty voice. ce Mrs. Fitzgerald is a fortune-teller. She has learnt this art ftom East. She is reading Annie’s fortune. She advises Annie to be strice and become the ‘boss’ in her family. Actually, Annie is not treated well by her family. At present, Mrs. Annie Pearson has bees reduced to the status of an unpaid domestic servant who does all work at home without even being requested for it or being later on. eRSESSRES ae Vee a. AQ Mrs. Fitzgerald Outlines the Plan to Reform Annie’s Family servant by her family. One day, she suggests that they sho 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 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 het house where she can relax.v pother's Day poris Gets a Shock risy the daughter of Mrs, Annie Pearson, a beautiful gt pot0 years, enters the house, She gets shocked at seeing te ppother smoking and playing cards alone, Doris asks abous her yelow dress, but her mother does not respond. She asks for tea Jo her mother answers rudely, telling her to iron her dren jeselfand make tea if she wants to. Doris gets angry, but gets 1 ood scolding from her mother. Then, Annie makes fur of Dor’ boyftiend, Charlie Spence, for having projecting teeth and being stupid. She tells Doris frankly chat at her age she sould have found somebody better than Charlie Spence This sange behaviour is too much for Dotis and she leaves the room crying. Cyril also Gets a Shock Gyr, Annie's son, enters the house and asks for tea in a demanding and angty manner. Annie tells him that she has sot bothered to get the tea ready. Cyril asks her if everything i xt with her. She replies that she has never fele better in her lf. When Cyril enquires why she has not got che tea ready, Annie replies that she wanted a change and that’s why she he not bothered to make tea. Cyril announces that he is short of time, s0 she should get the tea ready immediately. pil further enquires whether she has got his clothes ready. ‘When she says no, he gets anguished. He asks his mother whas will happen if they all talked like she was talking that day. Annie coldly replies that all three of them always talked to her lke that, o 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. Argument between Doris and Mrs. Annie Pearson Doris appears on the scene wearing a shoulder wrap. Annie remarks sarcastically about her dress. An argument stars besween Doris and Annie. Doris comments that if she was looking awful, it was due to her mother only, who made her cy, 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. rrr 3il She says that the manner in which their mother spoke hurt her the most and made her cry. Both the siblings 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 that they grew up. Doris then asked her if they had done something wrong, Annie tells them that i 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 cight hours a day with two days offat the weekend, she goes on working seven days round the clock. She warns them that on weekends, she will also take 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. 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. His wife tells him thatshe 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, Cj 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 ae 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 too. 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 revert 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 wants 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 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 she suggests.—— BASED Questions EXTRACT gelow and answer the auey, "ons Read the extracts give" 4 MRS. PEARSON: [dubious CoP bing ‘needs, Mrs. Pearson. |; [dubiously] I suppose . PEARS® ny unpleasantness. And i, a do natw where to start. I keep makin’? my mind to have it out with them but 2¥P my mow I don't know how to begin. (She grances at her watch oF ata clock] Oh ~ gq siatious! Look atthe time. Nothing ready ang they'll be home any minute and probably in a hurry to go out again. (i Inthe given extract, to whom does ‘them refer to? (ii Select the option that describes Mrs. Pearson in the extract. (a) Dominating (b) Submissive (c)Short-tempered (4) Illogical (iii) Why was Mrs. Pearson so worried? (a) Because her family will be home soon (b) Because she hadn't cook anything (c) Because she has wasted her time (d) All of the above (iv) In what endeavour does Mrs. Fitzgerald help Mrs. Pearson? ‘Ans (i) ‘Them’ in the given extract refers to the family of Mrs. Pearson, her husband, her daughter and her son. (i) (b) Submissive (ii) (d) All of the above (iv) Mrs, Fitzgerald helps Mrs. Pearson in making her family treat her well. 2 Mrs. FITZGERALD: How do you know? Ever tried it? Mrs. PEARSON: No, of course not... Mrs, FITZGERALD: [coolly] I have. Not for some time but it still ought to work. Won't ast long, but Ic do. Leatati long enough for what we want to Learnt it out East, of course, where they'Té UP : these tricks. [She holds her hand out across the table, keeping the cigarette inher mouth] Gi 8 oH imme your hands, dear. ee do Mrs. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Pear ‘son low each other? ee ele a pnd)r yore {a The question~"How do you know?" (a) Mrs. Pearson's family (b) changing bodies (0) fortune telling (@) teaching Mrs. Pearson's family a lesson ii) What does the above extract tellus (i irs. Fitzgerald? # about refersto (a) She hates Mr. Pearson. SHOR’ (b) She is wild and bold. (c) She wants Mrs, Pearson to become bx (d) She is great friend. oe (iv) How does Mrs. Fitzgerald plan to help Mrs, Pearson? (i) Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald are nei we D@)casgingbolies Sint (ii) (&) She is wild and bold. (jv) Mrs. Fitzgerald plans to help Mrs. Pearson by swapping personalities with her. 3 CYRIL: Imoving to the table; annoyed] Why not? MRS. PEARSON: [coolly] I couldn't bother. CYRIL: Feeling off-colour or something? Mrs. PEARSON: Never felt better in my life. CYRIL: [aggressively] What's the idea then? MRS. PEARSON: Just a change. CYRIL: [briskly] Well, snap out of it, Ma—and get cracking. Haven’t too much time. () What can you say about Cyril from the given lines? (a) He is dumb and acts superior in front of his mother. (b) He is arrogant and egoistic. (0) He always disrespects his mother (d) He takes his mother for granted. (ii) The phrase ‘feeling off colour’ means (a) feeling ill (b) feeling tired (0) feeling sleepy _(d) feeling lazy (iii) Why does Cyril act aggressive? (a) Because his mother insulted him (b) Because his mother had not made tea for him (©) Because he was getting late (d) Because his mother was behaving strangely (iv) What is the ‘change’ as referred to in the extract? (¥) According to Mrs. Pearson, where had Cyril been wasting his time and money? Ans (i) (4) He takes his mother for granted. (ii) @) feeling ill (iii) (5) Because his mother had not made tea for him Ans M Ans AnASSESSMENT | MULTIPLE CHOICE Questions 1 Mrs. Pearson is characterised in the play as... (a) ignorant and Dominating pees _uonne personality. () considerate (d) Both (b) and (c) J 2. Which of the following is the correct message of the play ‘Mother's Day’? (a) To give respect to every family member. (b) To appreciz rives/ mot their work. Js important. ach family member. (4) To give equal importan« EXTRACT BASED Question Read the extract given below and answer the questions that, follow. 1 MRS. PEARSON: I'll try not to, Mrs. Fitzgerald. ‘They've not had as long as 1 like to have given ‘em — another hour or 1W0's rough tap, tain... fhey'll do better now — though I don’t know how I'm going to explain... ‘MRS. PEARSON: I'm (i) When Mrs. Pearson says ‘that she will try not to, what is she talking about? (ii) The rough treatment was to (a) teach the Pearson family a lesson (b) make the Pearson family respect others (c) bring the Pearson family face-to-face with reality (d) make the children understand the importance of family (ili) Select the option that mentions the explanation talked about here. About becoming firm with all All of the above ) When do Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald get back to their original selves? SHORT ANSWER Type Questions 1 What was Mrs. Annie Pearson's problem as found out by Mrs. Fitzgerald? 2 When Mrs. Annie Pearson did not want Mrs. Fitzgerald to help her change her family’s behaviour, how did Fitzgerald convince her to agree? : 3 What solution was suggested by Mrs. Fitzgerald? 4 How does Mrs. Fitzgerald plan to deal with the family of Mrs. Annie Pearson?others Dey 323 fiend, Charlie Spence? { 49 What made Gcorge glum and serious? } 40 Mis. Fitzgerald advises Mrs, Annie Pearson not to get soft with her family members. Why? {1 What are the issues that the play ‘Mother's Day’ hi {2, What idea does JB Priestley want to communicate to the audience through the play ‘Mother's Day’? 4g What are the two reason: LONG ANSWER Type Questions yu think Mrs, Fitzgerald played fairly in: i s. Annie Pearson? What lesson did "Reon wher cen a ey BNE My 2 Every mother and wife demands respect from her children and husband. Discuss this statement in the context of the play “Mother's Day’. 3 What values do you observe in Annie's character in the beginning of the play and right at the end? + After exchanging her body with Mrs. Fitzgerald, Annie realised that the behaviour of her husband and children improved towards her and they do not take her for granted anymore. Imagine yourself to be Annie and express these thoughs. ‘You may begin like this .... ‘enough for taking my place and teaching my family a lesson. Their behaviour has