To Download PDF
Please verify your Whatsapp number first,
so you can download this pdf immediately
Send OTP
.svg)
Dear students, if you are feeling a little stressed about this chapter, don’t worry, it is actually one of the simplest and most enjoyable plays in your Class 11 English book. Mother’s Day by J.B. Priestley is not a serious or heavy story; instead, it is a light-hearted comedy with an important lesson.
The play shows us how mothers, who do so much for their families, are often ignored and taken for granted. Through a clever twist of role reversal, the writer makes us laugh while also teaching us to respect and value our mothers.
As you read, focus less on the magic or drama, and more on the message: every mother deserves love, appreciation, and dignity. If you keep this in mind, the chapter will not feel confusing. Instead, you may even enjoy it and smile at the way the family finally learns to behave better.
Mother’s Day by J.B. Priestley is a light-hearted play with a serious message. It talks about the thankless role of mothers and housewives who work tirelessly for their families but receive little respect or recognition. Using humor, role reversal, and satire, the play emphasizes the need for appreciation, equality, and proper treatment of women within a family.
Mrs. Annie Pearson is portrayed as a loving, gentle, and hardworking housewife. She spends her entire day looking after the needs of her husband and children, yet none of them value her contributions. Instead of respecting her, they treat her as if it is her duty to serve them endlessly. This leaves her feeling unappreciated and unhappy.
Her neighbor and friend, Mrs. Fitzgerald, notices Mrs. Pearson’s condition and advises her to become firm and assertive. Mrs. Pearson, however, lacks the courage to confront her family directly. To help her, Mrs. Fitzgerald suggests using a magic spell that allows them to exchange personalities. This unusual twist sets the stage for the comic turn of events that follow.
Once Mrs. Fitzgerald’s bold and dominating personality enters Mrs. Pearson’s body, she begins to behave in a completely new manner. She refuses to do chores for her children, tells her daughter Doris to make her own tea, and shocks her son Cyril by not running after his demands.
She even insults her husband George by telling him that people at the club laugh behind his back. The family, who had always taken her for granted, is left confused and stunned by her sharp and fearless attitude.
At first, the Pearsons are annoyed and offended by her behavior. However, as the conversation continues, they realize that she is speaking the truth. They begin to feel guilty for mistreating her and come to understand how unfairly they have behaved. This realization makes them determined to change their attitude toward her.
In the end, Mrs. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Pearson return to their original personalities. But now, the family has understood Mrs. Pearson’s value and agrees to treat her with love, care, and respect. Mrs. Pearson herself has also gained confidence and decides not to be overworked and undervalued anymore.
Let us go through each character of the story.
Mrs. Pearson is the central character of the play. She is a devoted housewife who spends all her time and energy looking after her husband and children. Unfortunately, she is taken for granted and treated like a servant rather than being respected as the backbone of the household.
At the beginning, she appears gentle, timid, and unable to assert herself. However, after exchanging personalities with Mrs. Fitzgerald, she transforms into a bold, confident, and assertive woman.
Through this transformation, she makes her family realize their mistakes. By the end, Mrs. Pearson learns to be firm and commands respect from her family.
Mrs. Fitzgerald is Mrs. Pearson’s neighbour and friend. She is bold, outspoken, and experienced, in sharp contrast to Mrs. Pearson’s timid nature. She recognizes how badly Mrs. Pearson is treated by her family and decides to help her.
Using her magical powers, she exchanges personalities with Mrs. Pearson to teach the family a lesson. It is Mrs. Fitzgerald’s strong will and strategy that bring about the much-needed change in the Pearson household.
George Pearson is Mrs. Pearson’s husband. He is pompous and self-important, but ironically, at the club he is mocked as ‘Pompy-ompy Pearson’. At home, he expects his wife to pamper him and cater to his needs.
At the club, however, people laugh at him and call him names like “Pompy-ompy Pearson.” He is shocked when Mrs. Pearson, under Mrs. Fitzgerald’s influence, reveals the truth about how others view him. This confrontation forces him to reflect on his behavior and recognize his wife’s worth.
Doris is the daughter of Mrs. Pearson. She is young, fashion-conscious, and self-centered. At the start of the play, she treats her mother casually, expecting her to serve and iron her clothes. When Mrs. Pearson refuses, Doris is shocked and angry, but later she realizes her mother’s value.
Cyril is Mrs. Pearson’s son. Like Doris, he is also selfish and inconsiderate. He assumes his mother will always be available to serve him, such as making tea or handling chores. When Mrs. Pearson refuses, Cyril too is confused and offended. However, by the end, he learns his lesson and begins to value his mother.
Now, let us understand the play line by line:
The play begins with Mrs. Pearson, a devoted housewife, confiding in her neighbour Mrs. Fitzgerald about her miserable condition at home. She tells how her husband and children treat her like a servant and never appreciate her hard work.
Mrs. Fitzgerald, who is bold and strong-willed, uses her magical powers to exchange personalities with Mrs. Pearson, enabling her to confront her family.
Main Point: The stage is set for role reversal–Mrs. Pearson’s problem is introduced, and Mrs. Fitzgerald provides the plan to solve it.
Once the personalities are swapped, Mrs. Pearson (with Mrs. Fitzgerald’s bold spirit inside her) starts behaving very differently. Her daughter Doris enters, expecting her mother to iron her dress. Instead, Mrs. Pearson bluntly refuses, telling her to do her own work. Doris, surprised and confused, cannot understand this sudden change in her usually submissive mother.
Main Point: The first hint of transformation comes when Doris faces her mother’s assertiveness.
Next, Mrs. Pearson’s son Cyril arrives and asks for tea. To his shock, Mrs. Pearson also refuses to serve him, saying she has better things to do than running after children all the time. Like Doris, Cyril is bewildered by this unexpected defiance.
Main Point: Mrs. Pearson shocks her son as well, further strengthening her new, assertive image.
When Mr. George Pearson, the husband, returns home, he too encounters the new Mrs. Pearson. Instead of greeting him warmly, she insults him by saying he is a “laughing stock” at the club, where people make fun of him behind his back. George, who expected to be pampered, feels humiliated and deeply offended.
Main Point: Even the head of the family is not spared; Mrs. Pearson openly criticises him and breaks his illusion of respect.
The family members, George, Doris, and Cyril, sit in shock at Mrs. Pearson’s unusual behaviour. Though they are angry and upset at first, gradually they realize that what she is saying is actually true. They begin to understand that they have been selfish and unfair in treating her like a servant.
Main Point: The shock treatment forces the family to reflect on their behaviour.
At this stage, Mrs. Fitzgerald re-enters and helps reverse the personalities. Mrs. Pearson becomes her usual self again, but now the family’s attitude toward her has changed. They feel guilty for their past behaviour and promise to help and respect her in the future.
Main Point: The magic is undone, but its effect remains, the family has learnt its lesson.
In the conclusion, Mrs. Pearson, though back in her original self, is no longer timid. She has realized that she must not let herself be exploited. The family too agrees to cooperate with her and treat her with dignity. The play ends with the family members realising their mistake and agreeing to share responsibilities.
Main Point: Mrs. Pearson emerges stronger, and the family promises a healthier, more respectful relationship.
These are the main themes of the story.
The play highlights how housewives like Mrs. Pearson are often taken for granted. They work tirelessly for their families but receive no appreciation or respect. The theme shows the emotional burden of being undervalued despite constant sacrifice.
Through Mrs. Fitzgerald’s intervention, Mrs. Pearson learns to stand up for herself. The theme emphasizes that women must assert their individuality and demand respect rather than silently tolerating neglect. It promotes the idea of women’s empowerment within the household.
The play explores the dynamics of a family where members fail to fulfill their responsibility of respecting and valuing each other. It shows that a healthy family depends on cooperation, understanding, and shared responsibilities, not exploitation of one person.
A central theme of the play is respect. Mrs. Pearson wants her husband and children to treat her not just as a caretaker but as an individual deserving dignity and recognition. Respect is shown as the foundation of harmonious relationships.
The play shows that people can change if they are made to realize their mistakes. Doris, Cyril, and George all learn their lesson when faced with Mrs. Pearson’s unexpected assertiveness. The theme conveys that self-reflection can lead to transformation in attitudes and behavior.
So friends, as we reach the end of Mother’s Day, take a deep breath and relax, you now know the heart of this play. It is not about complicated characters or difficult language; it is about a simple but powerful truth: mothers should not be treated as unpaid servants.
J.B. Priestley uses humor, wit, and role reversal to show how one small change in attitude can bring respect and harmony into a family. Remember, the story is less about magic and more about realization. Doris, Cyril, and George all change only when they are forced to see how unfairly they have behaved.
For you as a student, the takeaway is clear: focus on the themes of respect, family values, and women’s empowerment. If you revise the main points calmly, you will easily write answers in the exam. Trust yourself, you’ve got this, and your understanding is already stronger than you think!
Q1. How does Mrs. Pearson’s family treat her?
Ans. Her husband George, and children Doris and Cyril, are inconsiderate. They expect her to do all household chores but do not respect or value her opinions.
Q2. Who is Mrs. Fitzgerald and what role does she play?
Ans. Mrs. Fitzgerald is Mrs. Pearson’s bold and assertive neighbor. She uses magic to exchange personalities with Mrs. Pearson and helps her stand up to her family.
Q3. What changes occur after the personality exchange?
Ans. With Mrs. Fitzgerald’s personality, Mrs. Pearson becomes confident, speaks firmly, and makes her family realize their selfish behavior.
Q3. How does the family react to Mrs. Pearson’s new behavior?
Ans. At first, they are shocked and confused, but gradually they understand her value and agree to share responsibilities and respect her.
Q4. What message does the play convey about family relationships?
Ans. The play conveys that mutual respect, understanding, and equality are necessary in families. Women should not be treated as unpaid servants.
.svg){kind=logo}
