C6a86f9f 1666948500169

Question 1:
This play, written in the 1950s, is a humorous and satirical depiction of the
status of the mother in the family.
1. What are the issues it raises?

2. 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?
Answer:
1. The play raises many serious issues. The first and foremost is proper
appreciation of a housewife’s role and responsibilities. The woman of the
house works hard daily, turning the house into a home, but very few realise the
effort they put in to make it all perfect. The work done by them is underrated,
and in most cases, seen as their mere duties. They are neither acknowledged,
nor thanked for what they do for their families. The second issue is the
reciprocity of love and gratitude towards the mother or wife. In this play, the
husband, son and daughter leave the lady of the house alone every night, and
go out to enjoy themselves. They do not take any notice of her and have
become thoughtless and selfish. The mother’s excessive love, care and
promptness to serve them also spoil them.
2. The problems the play raise are serious. The treatment is of course, comical.
The playwright adopts an unusual method to resolve the issues. He takes the
help of element of magic. Incantation of a magical spell helps in the
interchanging of the personalities. Mrs Pearson, with the strong and sinister
personality of Mrs Fitzgerald, gives rough treatment to the daughter, son and
husband respectively. Her stern looks and commanding tone suggest that she
can be really tough. The spoilt members are disillusioned and awakened by
being exposed to bitter reality about themselves. The resolution of the issues in
this story seems far-fetched and unnatural, but extreme means have to be
adopted in disaster management.
2. Is drama a good medium for conveying a social message? Discuss.

Answer:
Yes, drama is certainly a good medium for conveying a social message. Direct
moralising is often resented and usually ignored. Drama is a presentation of a slice of life
through characters placed in various situations. The attention of the spectators centres
round their actions and reactions. Most of them feel fully involved with the protagonists.
The working out of the theme generally leaves a message—sometimes obvious and
explicit, but in most of the cases, indirect and implicit. The social message of these plays
seems to come out of the interactions of the characters and their traits of character. The
victory of evil over good is usually portrayed indirectly. These days we find many plays
centred around themes creating social awareness such as evils of substance abuse,
dangers of pollution, child labour, the decreasing female ratio and need to empower
women.
3. What do you think is the theme of the play? How has it been worked out?
Answer:
The theme of the play is the status of women in their own household. The housewife serves
the members of her family with complete devotion, sincerity and love. However, she is never
given the regard or attention she deserves. Her leniency and eagerness to please everyone
though make her family members happy, but also makes them selfish and thoughtless.
Instead of being politely requested for a favour, she is ordered to do it. She gets no thanks in
return.
The theme is worked out by portrayal of the Pearson family. Mrs Pearson is the harassed
mother. Her daughter Doris, son Cyril and husband George take her services for granted
and have become thoughtless and selfish. The interchange of personalities and the harsh
treatment meted out to them by the personality of Mrs Fitzgerald (in the body of Mrs
Pearson) reforms them and they obey the woman of the house willingly.
4. What impression do you form of Mrs Annie Pearson?

Answer:
Mrs Pearson is the main character in the play ‘Mother’s Day’. She is a pleasant, but worried-
looking woman in her forties. She speaks in a light, flurried tone, with a touch of suburban
Cockney. She loves her husband and children very much, and runs after them all the time.
Unfortunately, her excessive love and care have spoilt them. They have become thoughtless
and selfish. She feels neglected and lonely, but lacks the courage to share with them her
feelings. Perhaps she hates any unpleasantness as well. She is not willing to act as a tough
mother as she is nervous and fluttering by nature. She is so tender-hearted that she is
shocked to see the rough treatment meted out to her children by Mrs. Fitzgerald. She
decides to change back to her original personality to deal with her family herself. She is
indeed a doting mother and a devoted wife.
5. Comment on the ending of the play ‘Mother’s Day’.

Answer:
The play has a happy ending with a complete reversal of the initial situation. Mrs Pearson is
now cheerful, while the family looks anxiously at her. When she smiles, they feel much
relieved and smile back at her. For the first time perhaps, she tells the members of the family
what they should do. Instead of behaving timidly, she looks sharply at her family and asks if
they have any objections. George is the first to yield. He agrees to do whatever she says.
Still smiling, she suggests that they should have a nice family game of rummy and then the
children could get the supper ready while she has a talk with their father. George supports
her and looks enquiringly at the children. Cyril hastily approves the proposal while Doris
agrees hesitatingly. Mrs Pearson bids good bye to Mrs Fitzgerald and smilingly asks her to
come again soon.
The ending seems quite natural. It also leaves a message for the mothers. They should be
assertive, confident, love unconditionally, but not spoil the members of her family.
6. Write a note on the title of the play ‘Mother’s Day’.

Answer:
The title of the play is quite appropriate. It sums up the theme of the play. It suggests that the
action of the play revolves round a mother. The playwright confronts us at the outset with the
problems the mother faces from her grown up children and their father. The novel technique
employed to tackle the spoilt children and the husband is quite amusing and thought
provoking. The bold and dominating mother acts tough with the children and makes them
realise the need of proper attention towards their mother. They are made to learn a lesson in
courtesy and polite behaviour not only towards the mother, but also towards the visiting
neighbour. The mother certainly has her day as the children learn to treat her properly. The
supper being prepared by the children, their stay at home and the family game of rummy is a
rare gift that the mother receives.
This is one relationship in this mortal life which effortlessly scores above all other known
relationships on this Earth. It is truly priceless in terms of a mother’s countless love,
dedication, and devotion towards her family. Thus, the title 'Mother's Day' is among the best
titles that could have been given to the play. It is a description of a day on which an
insensitive family realises the importance of a selfless mother. This day becomes a turning
point in the life of Mrs. Pearson who finally receives the love, affection and respect that she
deserves from her family.
Mother’s Day Extra Questions
1. Who is Mrs Fitzgerald? What does she advise Mrs Pearson?
2. What was Mrs Pearson’s reaction to Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice?
3. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s opinion of Mrs Pearson’s attitude?
4. What does Mrs Fitzgerald offer to do for her?
5. What does Mrs Pearson say to Doris that really bothered her?
6. What does Mrs Pearson say to Cyril that shocks him?
7. What do Doris and Cyril feel about Mrs Pearson’s changed behaviour?
8. What was the truth about Mr George Pearson that hurt him the most?
9. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice to Mrs Pearson after she had put back the family
members in their proper place?

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Question 1:

1. What are the issues it raises?

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

4. What impression do you form of Mrs Annie Pearson?

5. Comment on the ending of the play ‘Mother’s Day’.

6. Write a note on the title of the play ‘Mother’s Day’.

Mother’s Day Extra Questions

1. Who is Mrs Fitzgerald? What does she advise Mrs Pearson?

2. What was Mrs Pearson’s reaction to Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice?

3. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s opinion of Mrs Pearson’s attitude?

4. What does Mrs Fitzgerald offer to do for her?

6. What does Mrs Pearson say to Cyril that shocks him?

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