“Sometimes it does people good to have their feelings hurt.”
Blunt, corrective
Fearless, truthful, assertive
Shock; self-realisation
Mrs. Fitzgerald
“You’ve got to be firm with them.”
Encouraging, commanding
Dominant, practical, empowering
Sustaining Mrs. Pearson’s transformation
C. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. How does Mrs Pearson’s family behaviour reveal that they take her for granted?
Answer: Mrs Pearson’s husband and children expect her to cook, clean, serve tea and meet their needs without considering her feelings. They treat her more like a servant than a respected member of the family. Her lack of assertiveness allows this behaviour to continue.
2. Why does Mrs Fitzgerald believe that Mrs Pearson must change herself before her family changes?
Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald understands that the family has become demanding because Mrs Pearson has always willingly served them. She therefore advises her to become firm and refuse unreasonable demands. According to her, the family will change only when Mrs Pearson changes her behaviour.
3. What does the transformation of Mrs Pearson’s personality reveal about self-respect?
Answer: The transformation shows that self-respect requires a person to recognise their own worth and establish reasonable boundaries. Mrs Pearson becomes confident enough to express her feelings and reject unfair treatment. Her change forces her family to reconsider their attitude towards her.
4. Why is Doris shocked when her mother refuses to serve her tea?
Answer: Doris is accustomed to receiving immediate attention and service from her mother. When Mrs Pearson refuses to serve her and speaks firmly, Doris finds the behaviour unusual and disturbing. Her reaction shows how dependent and entitled the family has become.
5. How does Cyril’s attitude towards his mother expose the family’s selfishness?
Answer: Cyril expects his mother to prepare tea and do household work according to his convenience. He does not initially consider her tiredness or feelings. His behaviour reflects the family’s assumption that domestic responsibilities are naturally the mother’s duty.
6. What is the significance of Mrs Fitzgerald’s statement that Mrs Pearson should “put your foot down”?
Answer: The statement means that Mrs Pearson should become firm and stop accepting disrespectful behaviour. Mrs Fitzgerald wants her to establish boundaries instead of constantly pleasing her family. It becomes the central principle behind Mrs Pearson’s transformation.
7. Why does Mrs Pearson’s changed behaviour make George uncomfortable?
Answer: George is accustomed to having a submissive wife who accepts his demands. Her new confidence challenges his authority and expectations. He becomes uncomfortable because Mrs Pearson openly questions his behaviour and refuses to treat him as someone entitled to special privileges.
8. How does humour strengthen the social criticism in Mother’s Day?
Answer: The play uses comic situations, role reversal and exaggerated reactions to present a serious issue in an entertaining way. The humour makes the audience notice the unfair treatment of Mrs Pearson while avoiding a purely serious or preachy presentation.
9. Why is the role reversal between Mrs Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald important to the play?
Answer: The role reversal makes Mrs Pearson temporarily adopt Mrs Fitzgerald’s bold personality. This allows her to confront her family directly. It also provides a dramatic method of showing how confidence and assertiveness can change relationships within a family.
10. What does the ending suggest about the kind of change Mrs Pearson wants in her family?
Answer: Mrs Pearson does not want to dominate or punish her family. She wants them to recognise her value and treat her with respect. The ending suggests that healthy family relationships require mutual consideration, affection and sharing of responsibilities.
D. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. Both Mother’s Day and The Portrait of a Lady present changing relationships within a family. Compare how the two texts portray the position of a woman within the family and the nature of change in family relationships.
Answer: In Mother’s Day, Mrs Pearson is neglected and taken for granted by her husband and children. She performs household duties but receives little appreciation or respect. With Mrs Fitzgerald’s intervention, she becomes assertive and makes her family realise that she also deserves consideration. The change is dramatic and humorous, and it aims at creating greater equality within the family.
In The Portrait of a Lady, the grandmother shares a close bond with the narrator during his childhood. However, their relationship gradually changes when he moves to the city and begins attending an English school and later university. The grandmother becomes increasingly distant from his modern education and lifestyle, although her affection remains constant. Thus, both texts show that family relationships can change with circumstances. However, while Mother’s Day focuses on changing behaviour and recognition of a woman’s contribution, The Portrait of a Lady presents the emotional distance created by changing generations and lifestyles.
Q2. Mother’s Day is more than a humorous play about a family. It is a comment on the need for respect, equality and recognition of a mother’s contribution to the household. Discuss.
Answer: The play exposes the unfair treatment of Mrs Pearson through humour and role reversal. Her husband and children depend on her for almost everything, yet they fail to recognise her contribution. They expect meals, tea, clean clothes and other services without appreciating the effort involved. Their behaviour reflects a common attitude that domestic work performed by a mother is a duty rather than valuable labour.
Mrs Fitzgerald helps Mrs Pearson understand that she must first respect herself and become firm. After the transformation, Mrs Pearson refuses to obey unreasonable demands and openly points out the selfish behaviour of her family. The comic situations make the message effective without making the play excessively serious. Importantly, Mrs Pearson does not seek revenge or absolute control. She wants a more balanced family life in which everyone shares responsibilities and treats one another with consideration. Thus, the play advocates self-respect, mutual respect, equality and appreciation of a mother’s contribution.
