Mother’s Day
Describe how Mrs Pearson is treated by her own children and husband before they are set right by her.
Mrs Pearson represents millions of mothers who are made to work like servants in their own houses. Their husbands and children enjoy themselves and have nice time outside. Only they are doomed to drudgery. Mrs Pearson is made to run after her husband George and children Doris and Cyril. She takes their order as if they are the masters of the family and she is their attendant. While they enjoy themselves outside she stays at home every night.
Mrs Pearson’s daughter Doris is a pretty but spoilt girl. She is in her early twenties. She has to go out tonight. She asks her mother to iron her yellow silk. She expects her mother to do all such things without questioning her. Then she orders for tea. It must be kept ready. She thinks nothing except having nice time and fun with her boy-friend Charlie Spence. Cyril is Mrs Pearson’s son. He is the masculine counterpart of Doris. He has to stay outside tonight. He asks if his mother has put his things out. The poor mother runs all the time putting his things out or mending them. George, Mrs Pearson’s husband spends most of his time at the club. The people at the club call him Pompy-Ompy Pearson because he is slow and pompous. Mr Pearson expects his wife to keep tea ready even though he doesn’t need it. He suffers from the inflated male ego.
Unfortunately, Mrs Pearson works like a servant in her own family. She gets no wages for her work. Nor does anybody thank her for her services. She is taken for granted by her children as well as by her husband.
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Contrast the two ladies: Mrs Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald.
What picture of Mrs Pearson do you form in the opening of the play and why?
How does Mrs Fitzgerald tell Mrs Pearson’s fortune?
Why doesn’t Mrs Pearson become ‘the boss’ of her family as Mrs Fitzgerald advises her to be?
Or
What is Mrs Fitzgerald’s advice to Mrs Pearson?
What does Mrs Fitzgerald find the cause of Mrs Pearson’s misery?
How do Mrs Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald exchange their personalities?
How does Mrs Pearson start behaving after the exchange of personalities? Name the changes that surprise her children and husband.
Describe Doris. How does she trouble her mother?
How does Mrs Pearson (with Mrs Fitzgerald’s personality) make fun of Charlie Spence?
How does Mrs Pearson (assuming the personality of Mrs Fitzgerald) set Doris right?
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