What went wrong when the king rode under the arch?

It was too low and knocked off his crown

How does the chain of blame unfold in the poem?

Each accused person blames another, ending with the king's own changes

Who wrote "Mother's Day" and what kind of play is it?

J.B. Priestley; it is a humorous, satirical one-act play.

What is the central issue the play raises?

The way a mother is taken for granted, ordered about and treated like a servant by her own family.

How is Mrs Pearson treated by her husband and children?

They give her orders, ignore her feelings, expect her to wait on them, and offer no thanks or respect.

Why could Mrs Pearson not confront her family herself?

She was too fond of them and too timid; she hated unpleasantness and did not know how to begin.

What solution does Mrs Fitzgerald propose?

A spell learnt "out East" by which the two women exchange personalities and bodies for a while.

How does Mrs Fitzgerald (in Mrs Pearson's body) deal with the family?

Firmly — refusing chores on demand, smoking, drinking stout, threatening weekends off, and speaking bluntly.

What truth does she tell George about his club?

That the members laugh at him behind his back and call him "Pompy-ompy Pearson."

How does the family change after this treatment?

They are shocked and chastened, and begin to treat "mother" with new respect and eagerness to please.

What advice does Mrs Fitzgerald give Mrs Pearson before changing back?

Not to apologise or go soft on them, but to keep a firm hand so the lesson lasts.

How does the play resolve the issues it raises?

The family, now respectful, agree to stay in for a game of rummy and to help with supper, restoring the mother's rightful place.

Mother's Day

Class 11 English · Snapshots · Chapter 3

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The story in short

J.B. Priestley's humorous and satirical one-act play exposes how a mother is taken for granted by her family and how she reclaims her self-respect. Mrs Annie Pearson is a pleasant but over-indulgent housewife whose husband George and grown children Doris and Cyril order her about, ignore her feelings and treat her like a servant. Her neighbour Mrs Fitzgerald, a strong-willed fortune-teller, urges her to put her foot down, but Mrs Pearson cannot bring herself to confront her family. Mrs Fitzgerald therefore proposes a magical solution: through a spell learnt "out East," the two women exchange personalities (and bodies). Now bold and sharp-tongued in Mrs Pearson's body, Mrs Fitzgerald deals firmly with the family — refusing to do chores on demand, smoking, drinking stout, threatening a forty-hour week with weekends off, and bluntly telling George that the club members mock him as "Pompy-ompy Pearson." The shocked and chastened family begin to treat "mother" with new respect. The women then change back, and Mrs Fitzgerald warns Mrs Pearson not to apologise or go soft, but to keep a firm hand. The play ends with the family, now eager to please, agreeing to a family game of rummy and to help with supper. Written in the 1950s, the comedy makes a serious point about respecting the mother and asserting one's rightful place in the family.

Mother's Day

Characters & key ideas

Mrs Annie Pearsonthe over-indulgent mother taken for granted by her family.

Mrs Fitzgeraldthe strong-willed neighbour and fortune-teller who swaps personalities.

Personality swapthe magic spell by which the two women exchange bodies.

George Pearsonthe pompous husband mocked at his club as "Pompy-ompy Pearson."

Satirethe humorous criticism of how families take the mother for granted.

Self-respectwhat Mrs Pearson learns to assert, claiming her rightful place at home.

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Who wrote the play "Mother's Day"?

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Mother's Day

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The story in short

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Practice quiz · Mother's Day

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