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‘Mother’s Day’ by J.B. Priestley is the third chapter in the NCERT Class 11 English Snapshots textbook. This thought-provoking play highlights the challenges faced by a mother who is taken for granted by her family. Through a humorous and unique twist in the play, the story explores the themes of respect, family dynamics and the importance of appreciating mothers. In these notes, we will provide you with the summary, character sketch, themes and key events to revise the chapter for your exams. You can also download the free PDF of these notes for a quick revision.
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NCERT Notes Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter: 3 Mother’s Day
Here we have given the NCERT notes of Class 11 English snapshots Chapter 3 Mother’s Day including the author highlights, synopsis, character sketch, theme and the summary.
About the Author and Key Highlights
J.B. Priestley was a renowned English playwright and novelist known for his insightful and engaging works that often explore social issues and human relationships. “Mother’s Day” is a one-act play that uses humour and a touch of fantasy to address the lack of appreciation for mothers in a typical household. The play centres on Mrs. Annie Pearson, a devoted but overworked mother, who, with the help of her neighbour Mrs. Fitzgerald, teaches her family a lesson about respect and responsibility. The story emphasises the need for mutual respect and understanding within a family.
Synopsis of the Play
The play is set in the living room of the Pearson family in a London suburb. Mrs. Annie Pearson is a kind but overburdened mother who is constantly neglected by her husband, George, and their two grown children, Doris and Cyril. Her neighbour, Mrs. Fitzgerald, a strong-willed woman with knowledge of Eastern magic, convinces Mrs. Pearson to stand up for herself. When Mrs. Pearson hesitates, Mrs. Fitzgerald uses a magical spell to swap their bodies, allowing her to take Mrs. Pearson’s place and confront the family’s selfish behaviour. Through sharp wit and bold actions, Mrs. Fitzgerald (in Mrs. Pearson’s body) shocks George, Doris, and Cyril into realising their thoughtless treatment of their mother. Eventually, the personalities are swapped back, and Mrs. Pearson, now empowered, ensures her family treats her with respect, culminating in a plan for a family game of rummy and shared responsibilities.
Main Characters in the Chapter
Understand the key characters who drive the narrative:
- Mrs. Annie Pearson: A pleasant, worried-looking woman in her forties, she is a devoted wife and mother who is taken for granted by her family. She struggles to assert herself until the body swap empowers her to demand respect.
- Mrs. Fitzgerald: An older, strong-willed neighbour with a bold personality and knowledge of Eastern magic. She initiates the body swap to help Mrs. Pearson teach her family a lesson.
- George Pearson: Mrs. Pearson’s husband, a pompous and self-important man in his fifties. He spends much of his time at the club, unaware that he is mocked there, and neglects his wife’s needs.
- Doris Pearson: The Pearson’s spoilt daughter in her early twenties. She expects her mother to cater to her demands, such as ironing her clothes, and is shocked by her mother’s newfound assertiveness.
- Cyril Pearson: The Pearson’s son, also in his early twenties, who is equally spoilt and thoughtless. He takes his mother’s efforts for granted until confronted by her changed behaviour.
Themes in the Play
The play explores several significant themes, explained below in simple terms:
- Respect and Appreciation: The central theme is the need for families to value and respect mothers for their tireless efforts. The play critiques the tendency to take mothers for granted.
- Family Dynamics: It highlights the imbalance in the Pearson household, where the mother is treated like a servant, and shows how asserting boundaries can restore balance.
- Empowerment: Through the body swap, Mrs. Pearson gains the confidence to stand up for herself, emphasising the importance of self-respect and assertiveness.
- Gender Roles: The play subtly addresses traditional gender roles, showing how societal expectations burden women with domestic responsibilities without acknowledgement.
- Transformation through Confrontation: The use of humour and confrontation (via Mrs. Fitzgerald’s bold approach) brings about a change in the family’s behaviour, underscoring the value of tough love.
Literary Devices in the Play
J.B. Priestley employs various literary devices to enhance the narrative:
- Humor: The play uses witty dialogue and the absurdity of the body swap to create comedic moments, such as Mrs. Pearson’s sharp retorts to her family’s demands.
- Irony: Dramatic irony is evident when the family is unaware of the body swap, believing they are interacting with Mrs. Pearson when it is actually Mrs. Fitzgerald.
- Symbolism: The body swap symbolises the need for a shift in perspective, allowing Mrs. Pearson to see her worth and her family to recognise their mistakes.
- Dialogue: The contrasting voices and mannerisms of Mrs. Pearson (light and apologetic) and Mrs. Fitzgerald (bold and commanding) highlight their personalities and drive the plot.
- Stage Directions: Detailed stage directions, such as the description of the characters’ reactions and movements, add depth to the performance and emphasise the shift in dynamics.
Check Out: NCERT Notes and Solutions Class 11 English
Class 11 English Chapter 3: Mother’s Day Summary
The play “Mother’s Day” by J.B. Priestley is a humorous exploration of family dynamics and the importance of appreciating mothers. Below is a detailed summary of the key events in a clear and concise manner:
- The Fortune-Telling Scene: The play opens in the Pearson family’s living room, where Mrs. Fitzgerald, a bold neighbour, is telling Mrs. Pearson’s fortune with cards. Mrs. Fitzgerald urges Mrs. Pearson to stand up to her thoughtless family, who treat her like a servant. Mrs. Pearson, hesitant and fond of her family, admits she finds it hard to confront them.
- The Magical Body Swap: When Mrs. Pearson expresses her inability to assert herself, Mrs. Fitzgerald suggests swapping bodies using a magic spell she learned in the East. Despite Mrs. Pearson’s doubts, they perform the spell, and their personalities switch bodies—Mrs. Fitzgerald becomes bold, Mrs. Pearson, while Mrs. Pearson, in Mrs. Fitzgerald’s body, is nervous and alarmed.
- Confronting Doris and Cyril: Doris enters, demanding that her mother iron her yellow silk dress for a date with Charlie Spence. Mrs. Pearson (Mrs. Fitzgerald) shocks her by refusing, smoking, and criticising Charlie. Similarly, when Cyril demands tea and his clothes prepared, Mrs. Pearson dismisses him, declaring she’s done with such tasks. Both children are stunned by their mother’s changed behaviour.
- Challenging George: George, the pompous husband, returns home and is shocked to see his wife drinking stout and refusing to prepare tea. Mrs. Pearson reveals that he is mocked at the club as “Pompy-ompy Pearson,” hurting his feelings but forcing him to confront the truth about his social standing.
- The Family’s Reaction: Doris and Cyril, confused and upset, speculate if their mother has suffered a concussion. They are further shocked when Mrs. Pearson declares she might take weekends off and expects them to help with household tasks. The family is thrown into disarray by her assertive attitude.
- The Return to Normal: Mrs. Fitzgerald (in Mrs. Pearson’s body) is confronted by Mrs. Pearson (in Mrs. Fitzgerald’s body), who insists they switch back, unable to bear her family’s misery. They perform the spell again, returning to their original bodies. Mrs. Fitzgerald warns Mrs. Pearson to stay firm to maintain the change in her family’s behaviour.
- A Changed Family Dynamic: The play ends with Mrs. Pearson, now more confident, suggesting a family game of rummy and asking her children to help with supper. The family, humbled and apprehensive, agrees, signalling a shift toward mutual respect and shared responsibilities.
Moral of the Story – Mother’s Day
Below are the key moral lessons from the play:
- Appreciate and respect mothers for their hard work and sacrifices.
- Standing up for oneself is essential to changing unfair treatment within a family.
- Mutual respect and shared responsibilities strengthen family bonds.
- Confronting uncomfortable truths can lead to positive transformation.
Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Snapshot’ here!
| Chapter 1: The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse |
| Chapter 2: The Address Solution |
| Chapter 4: Birth Solution |
| Chapter 5: The Tale of Melon City Solution |
Explore Notes of Other NCERT Class 11 Subjects
| History | Geography | Political Science | Sociology | Psychology |
FAQs
Mrs. Fitzgerald suggests the body swap to help Mrs. Pearson assert herself and teach her thoughtless family to respect her, as Mrs. Pearson struggles to confront them herself.
Mrs. Fitzgerald is a strong-willed neighbour who uses her knowledge of Eastern magic to initiate the body swap, enabling Mrs. Pearson to stand up to her family and bring about change.
The family changes their behaviour after being shocked by Mrs. Pearson’s (Mrs. Fitzgerald’s) assertive and confrontational attitude, which makes them realise their thoughtless treatment of her.
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