Complete Summary and Solutions for Mother’s Day – Snapshots NCERT Class XI English, Chapter 3 – Summary, Explanation, Questions, Answers
A humorous and satirical play by J.B. Priestley depicting the status and struggles of a mother within her family. The summary covers the narrative, character analysis, themes, and includes all NCERT questions, answers, and exercises related to the play.
Mother's Day - J.B. Priestley | Snapshots Play Study Guide 2025
Mother's Day
J.B. Priestley | Snapshots Play - Ultimate Study Guide 2025
Introduction to the Play
"Mother's Day" is a witty one-act play by J.B. Priestley, satirizing mid-20th-century family dynamics where the selfless mother, Mrs. Pearson, is taken for granted by her self-absorbed husband George and children Doris and Cyril. Set in a cozy London suburb living room, the plot hinges on a magical body-swap orchestrated by the bold neighbor Mrs. Fitzgerald, allowing the assertive Irish widow to impersonate the timid Mrs. Pearson. Through sharp dialogue and escalating chaos, the family confronts their ingratitude, leading to a humorous reversal where respect is restored. Priestley's farce blends fantasy with social commentary, highlighting gender roles and the need for familial reciprocity in a post-war domestic idyll.
Key Elements
Setting: Afternoon in the Pearsons' lived-in living room, symbolizing stifled domesticity.
Genre: Humorous satire with supernatural twist, critiquing suburban complacency.
Theme Preview: Empowerment through role reversal; the cost of unchecked selfishness.
Context in Snapshots
This 1950s play resonates for CBSE Class 11, prompting discussions on evolving family structures in 2025 exams.
Points to Ponder
Does magic amplify or undermine the play's message on assertiveness?
How does humor mask deeper frustrations in everyday households?
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About the Author: J.B. Priestley (1894–1984)
Biography
John Boynton Priestley, a prolific English novelist, playwright, and broadcaster, captured the spirit of interwar and post-war Britain. A WWI veteran, he infused works with social realism and whimsy, as in "An Inspector Calls" (1945). "Mother's Day" (first performed 1934, published 1950s) exemplifies his light-hearted critiques of class and gender.
Legacy
Priestley's versatile oeuvre, blending mystery, satire, and time-bending fantasy, influenced BBC adaptations and modern theater, advocating social justice through entertaining narratives.
Worldview
Priestley championed the "common man," using humor to expose hypocrisies and promote empathy in fractured societies.
Expanded Bio
Yorkshire-born, Oxford-educated, he penned over 100 works, including essays on Englishness, reflecting his socialist leanings and fascination with the supernatural.
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Before You Read
The following play is a humorous portrayal of the status of the mother in a family. Let’s read on to see how Mrs Pearson’s family reacts when she tries to stand up for her own rights.
Reflection Prompt:
This invites anticipation of role reversal; consider how fantasy enables critique of real domestic imbalances.
Who are the key characters? What might the body-swap symbolize?
How has the "selfless mother" trope evolved since the 1950s?
Priestley uses Cockney-Irish dialects for cultural contrast.
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Full Script & Summary
Pointwise Summary (English)
Setup & Fortune-Telling: In the Pearsons' living room, timid Mrs. Pearson consults bold neighbor Mrs. Fitzgerald, a fortune-teller, who urges her to assert herself against her ungrateful family.
Magical Body-Swap: Frustrated, Mrs. Fitzgerald proposes and enacts an Eastern spell to swap bodies; now "Mrs. Pearson" (Fitzgerald's personality) takes charge, while the real Mrs. Pearson hides next door.
Confronting Doris: Spoiled daughter Doris demands ironed silk for a date; "Mrs. Pearson" smokes, refuses tea, mocks her date Charlie Spence, and asserts her own needs, shocking Doris.
Handling Cyril: Lazy son Cyril expects tea and mending; "Mrs. Pearson" rebuffs him, joins the "union" against housework, and criticizes his wasteful hobbies.
George's Humiliation: Pompous husband George questions the stout-drinking; "Mrs. Pearson" reveals his club nickname "Pompy-ompy," deflates his ego, and bans his snooker outing.
Family Chaos & Reflection: Siblings whisper in alarm; "Mrs. Pearson" demands respect, weekend off-duty, and manners toward guests like the returning real Mrs. Pearson (as Fitzgerald).
Climactic Reversal: Tension peaks with shouts; Mrs. Fitzgerald insists on swapping back, as the lesson sinks in through discomfort.
Resolution & Harmony: Restored, Mrs. Pearson firmly suggests rummy and family supper; the chastened clan complies, pledging appreciation.
बिंदुवार सारांश (हिंदी)
स्थापना एवं भविष्यवाणी: पियर्सन परिवार के लिविंग रूम में, संकोची श्रीमती पियर्सन साहसी पड़ोसिन श्रीमती फिट्जगेराल्ड से परामर्श करती हैं, जो परिवार के प्रति दृढ़ता की सलाह देती हैं।
जादुई शरीर-परिवर्तन: निराश होकर, श्रीमती फिट्जगेराल्ड पूर्वी मंत्र से शरीर बदलती हैं; अब "श्रीमती पियर्सन" (फिट्जगेराल्ड की प्रवृत्ति) कमान संभालती हैं, जबकि असली श्रीमती पियर्सन छिप जाती हैं।
डोरिस का सामना: लाड़ली बेटी डोरिस डेट के लिए सिल्क आयरन कराने की मांग करती है; "श्रीमती पियर्सन" सिगरेट पीती, चाय अस्वीकार करती, चार्ली स्पेंस का मजाक उड़ाती, और अपनी जरूरतें बताती हैं।
सिरिल का प्रबंधन: आलसी बेटा सिरिल चाय और मरम्मत की अपेक्षा करता है; "श्रीमती पियर्सन" उसे झिड़कती, घरेलू काम के खिलाफ "यूनियन" में शामिल होती, और उसके शौकों की निंदा करती हैं।
जॉर्ज का अपमान: घमंडी पति जॉर्ज स्टाउट पीने पर सवाल उठाता है; "श्रीमती पियर्सन" क्लब में उसके उपनाम "पॉम्पी-ओम्पी" का खुलासा करती, अहंकार तोड़ती, और स्नूकर रोकती हैं।
परिवारिक अराजकता एवं चिंतन: भाई-बहन चिंतित फुसफुसाते हैं; "श्रीमती पियर्सन" सम्मान, वीकेंड अवकाश, और अतिथियों के प्रति शिष्टाचार की मांग करती हैं।
चरमोत्कर्ष एवं उलटफेर: चीखें बढ़ती हैं; श्रीमती फिट्जगेराल्ड वापसी पर जोर देती हैं, क्योंकि सबक असुविधा से सीखा जाता है।
समाधान एवं सामंजस्य: बहाल होकर, श्रीमती पियर्सन दृढ़ता से रमी और पारिवारिक भोजन सुझाती हैं; सुधरे परिवार का अनुमोदन होता है।
Full Script Excerpt (Key Scenes from PDF)
[Scene opens with Mrs. Fitzgerald telling fortunes to Mrs. Pearson. Dialogue ensues about family neglect.]
Mrs Fitzgerald: [collecting up the cards] And that’s all I can tell you, Mrs Pearson. Could be a good fortune. Could be a bad one. All depends on yourself now...
[Body-swap spell: Arshtatta dum—arshtatta lam—arshtatta lamdumbona...]
[Post-swap: "Mrs. Pearson" (Fitzgerald) confronts family.]
Doris: Mum—you’ll have to iron my yellow silk...
Mrs Pearson: [coolly] Want it ironed? What d’you think it’s going to do—iron itself?
[Climax with George: Revelation of nickname.]
Mrs Pearson: They call you Pompy-ompy Pearson because they think you’re so slow and pompous.
[Resolution: Swap back, family game.]
Mrs Pearson: I thought we’d have a nice family game of rummy—and then you children could get the supper ready...
[Full script spans 20 pages; key exchanges highlight satire.]
Staging Notes
Contrasting voices: Light Cockney for Pearson, deep Irish for Fitzgerald.
Gender Roles & Empowerment: Mother's invisibility challenged via borrowed boldness.
Family Ingratitude: Satirizes entitlement; reciprocity as cure.
Social Satire: Suburban pomposity and labor inequities mocked.
Sub-Themes
Magical Realism: Fantasy underscores real emotional truths.
Class & Accent: Cockney vs. Irish highlights cultural clashes.
Critical Appreciation
Priestley's blend of whimsy and bite makes the play timeless; the swap metaphorically "frees" the oppressed, resolving via gentle reform rather than revolution.
Deeper Analysis
Symbolism: Cigarette: Fitzgerald's vice as Pearson's vice-less rebellion.
Cultural Context: Post-WWII Britain; critiques domestic "front" mirroring war's aftermath.
Relevance: Echoes #MeToo-era calls for emotional labor recognition.
Discussion Prompts
Is the resolution realistic, or does it idealize change?
How does humor prevent preachiness?
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Reading with Insight
1. This play, written in the 1950s, is a humorous and satirical depiction of the status of the mother in the family. (i) What are the issues it raises? (ii) 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:
(i) Issues: Maternal self-sacrifice, family entitlement, gender imbalance in chores/emotions. (ii) Genuine with caricature via exaggeration (e.g., body-swap); resolves through confrontation and pact for respect. Agree: Humorous catalyst prompts sustainable change without bitterness.
2. If you were to write about these issues today what are some of the incidents, examples and problems that you would think of as relevant?
Answer:
Modern: Work-from-home overload on mothers; social media-fueled comparison; gig economy's "invisible" domestic labor; examples: Post-pandemic burnout, unequal parenting apps tracking.
3. Is drama a good medium for conveying a social message? Discuss.
Answer:
Yes: Vivid characters/dialogue make issues relatable; enactment fosters empathy. E.g., "Mother's Day" uses farce for accessibility, unlike dry essays.
4. Read the play out in parts. Enact the play on a suitable occasion.
Activity:
Group reading: Assign roles; stage on Mother's Day for irony and impact.
5. Discuss in groups plays or films with a strong message of social reform that you have watched.
Reflection:
E.g., "An Inspector Calls" (Priestley: class guilt); "The Help" (film: racial injustice); group: How do they balance message with entertainment?
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Interactive Quiz - Test Your Understanding
10 MCQs on the play, themes, and analysis. Aim for 80%+!
Suggested Reading
Priestley's Works
An Inspector Calls – Thriller on social responsibility.
Laburnum Grove – Another domestic satire.
More
Related: "The Importance of Being Earnest" (Wilde: role farce); films like "Freaky Friday" (body-swap comedy).
