Short Answer Type Questions
Q. 1. How does Mrs. Pearson propose to spend the evening? Is her proposal acceptable to the family?
Ans: Mrs. Pearson suggests a quiet family evening at home: they should have a nice game of rummy, the children should prepare the supper and she will have a proper talk with their father. She asks the family if they object, and all agree at once that it suits them. Thus, Mrs Pearson succeeds in keeping the family at home that evening.
Q. 2. What fortune does Mrs. Fitzgerald predict for Mrs. Pearson?
Ans: Mrs. Fitzgerald gives an ambiguous prediction: the fortune could be either good or bad, and it largely depends on Mrs. Pearson herself. She tells Mrs. Pearson to decide firmly how she wishes to behave, for her own choices will determine the outcome.
Q. 3. What difficulties does Mrs. Pearson face while dealing with the various members of her family?
Ans: Mrs. Pearson is extremely fond of her husband and children but she lacks the courage to speak to them directly. Instead of stating her needs plainly she only drops hints and avoids any unpleasantness. Because she cannot begin a firm discussion, she finds it difficult to make the family recognise or respect her role.
Q. 4. What is Mrs. Pearson's problem? What advice does Mrs. Fitzgerald give her?
Ans: Mrs. Pearson's problem is that her family takes her for granted: she runs after them, obeys their orders and stays at home while they go out. Mrs. Fitzgerald advises her to assert herself as the mistress of the house-to be firm and stop allowing the family to treat her like a servant if she wants proper respect.
Q. 5. 'Then let me do it,' suggests Mrs. Fitzgerald. How does Mrs. Pearson react to it?
Ans: When Mrs. Fitzgerald offers to take charge and put the family in their place, Mrs. Pearson feels flustered and uneasy. She thanks her but says it "wouldn't do," fearing the family would resent being disciplined by someone else and would refuse to listen. At first she is reluctant to accept outside interference.
Q. 6. How does Mrs. Fitzgerald perform the trick of changing her personality with that of Mrs. Pearson?
Ans: Mrs. Fitzgerald takes Mrs. Pearson's hands, asks her to be still and then recites a spell she learned in the East. As the spell is spoken both women first relax deeply and then revive. After this, their personalities swap: each behaves as if she were the other, so Mrs. Pearson takes on Mrs. Fitzgerald's assertive manner and Mrs. Fitzgerald becomes meek and subdued.
Q. 7. What changes come over Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald when they change personalities?
Ans: After the change, Mrs. Pearson becomes dominating, aggressive and bossy, adopting Mrs. Fitzgerald's tough manner. Conversely, Mrs. Fitzgerald becomes nervous and confused, losing her former forceful personality. The role reversal is clear and dramatic.
Q. 8. How does mother make fun of Charlie Spence?
Ans: Mrs. Pearson mocks Charlie Spence, Doris's boyfriend, by calling attention to his buckteeth and by suggesting he is half-witted, implying Doris could find someone better. Her blunt remarks are meant to shock Doris and show disapproval.
Q. 9. Mention three things in the behaviour of mother that astonish Doris.
Ans: Doris is astonished because her mother has not put the tea on as usual, she is smoking, and she refuses to iron Doris's yellow silk dress-behaviours quite unlike the usual obliging mother.
Q. 10. What, according to Doris, could be the reason for mother's strange behaviour? Does Cyril agree with her?
Ans: Doris suggests that their mother might have hit her head or suffered some shock to explain the odd behaviour. Cyril agrees that the behaviour is odd but thinks Doris's suggestion is too far-fetched and unlikely.
Q. 11. Why does Doris ask mother whether she had fallen or hit herself with something? How does mother react to it?
Ans: Doris asks if her mother has fallen or been struck because she thinks a violent shock might explain the sudden change in behaviour. Mother reacts angrily and defensively, telling Doris to behave properly and to stop asking such silly questions.
Q. 12. Why is Cyril Pearson astonished at mother's behaviour?
Ans: Cyril is astonished because his mother has not prepared his tea as usual and has not laid out his things despite promising to check on repairs. He is further surprised when she casually asks whether there is any stout left in the house-something he had never seen her drink-so her conduct seems inexplicably odd to him.
Q. 13. 'That's a nice way to talk what would happen if we all talked like that' says Cyril. In what context does he say so? What argument does he get in return?
Ans: Cyril objects when Mrs. Pearson says she has decided she won't do the mending any more. Mrs. Pearson replies sharply that everyone shirks work in their own way-if something is unpleasant at home they refuse it; at work they get the union to bar it. She says she has joined that movement and will no longer accept all household duties without question. This is the rebuttal Cyril receives.
Q. 14. 'Well, that ought to be a nice change for you' says Mrs. Pearson. What change does she refer and how does George react to it?
Ans: The change refers to Mrs. Pearson's decision to stop serving continually and to take time off-she even drinks stout in the afternoon, which is out of character. George is confused and surprised; he objects, saying he does not like her drinking and that it looks improper, showing his discomfort with this sudden change in her behaviour.
Q. 15. What is odd, according to Mrs. Pearson, in the behaviour of George, when he is annoyed with her for not getting his tea ready.
Ans: Mrs. Pearson finds it odd that George becomes annoyed about not having tea when earlier he had said he did not want tea at all. She cannot understand why he complains about something he claimed he did not need.
Q. 16. How is Doris taught a lesson in behaviour?
Ans: When Mrs. Fitzgerald refers to Doris's plan to go out with Charlie Spence, Doris answers rudely that it is none of her business. Mrs. Pearson (acting firmly) rebukes Doris sharply, telling her to be polite and not to talk impudently. This firm correction teaches Doris a lesson about respectful behaviour.
Q. 17. Why does Mrs. Pearson rebuke Doris in the presence of Fitzgerald?
Ans: Doris speaks impudently to Mrs. Fitzgerald when questioned about her evening plans. Mrs. Pearson rebukes her in front of their neighbour to insist on proper manners and to show that such rude behaviour will not be tolerated.
Q. 18. Why does Mrs. Pearson threaten to slap her husband?
Ans: George loses his temper and asks if Mrs. Pearson has gone mad, which humiliates her in front of their neighbour. Offended and no longer willing to endure his shouting, she jumps up and threatens to slap him if he shouts at her again-an assertive reaction that surprises the family.
Q. 19. Why did George Pearson gets astonished when Mrs. Fitzgerald calls him 'George'? How does Mrs. Pearson make fun of him?
Ans: George is astonished because Mrs. Fitzgerald, the neighbour, uses his first name familiarly, which surprises him. Mrs. Pearson teases him by pointing out that his name is simply George and mockingly asks if he fancies himself as someone grand, like the Duke of Edinburgh, thereby poking fun at his pride.
Q. 20. How does Mrs. Pearson make fun of her husband? How does he respond to it?
Ans: Mrs. Pearson teases George by telling him that men at his club call him "Pompy-Ompy Pearson" because they find him pompous and slow. When their son Cyril confirms this, George is shocked and embarrassed, and he staggers out of the room in discomfort.
Q. 21. How does Mrs. Pearson teach her children to be responsible adults?
Ans: Mrs. Pearson scolds her children for their thoughtless habits and criticises their way of living-coming in, asking for things and going out again. She points out that she too has done her "eight hours" of household work and announces she will take two days off at the weekend unless they behave responsibly. Her firmness and new expectations encourage the children to take on household duties.
Q. 22. How does the stern treatment reform the spoilt children?
Ans: The children are taken aback by Mrs. Pearson's stern manner; they look apprehensively at her but soon respond to her clear directives. Since they are not allowed out, she suggests a family game of rummy and asks them to get supper ready while she speaks to their father. The children meekly obey, showing that firm, consistent authority reforms their spoiled behaviour.
Q. 23. What picture of Mrs. Pearson emerges in the opening of the play 'Mother's Day'?
Ans: In the opening Mrs. Pearson appears as a pleasant, middle-aged housewife in her forties who takes delight in serving her family. Despite being loving and patient, she is taken for granted by her family and bears thoughtlessness quietly because she avoids any household unpleasantness.
Q. 24. "But any of you forty hour a weekend who expect to be waited on hand and foot on Saturday and Sunday with no thanks for it, are in for a nasty disappointment. "says Mrs. Pearson How has she planned to spend the weekend?
Ans: Mrs. Pearson decides she will refuse to serve the family as she used to on weekends. She may help only as a favour if asked politely and thanked. She also considers going away for the weekend for a change, signaling that she expects attention and appreciation for her work at home.
Q. 25. What last warning did Mrs. Fitzgerald give to Mrs. Pearson?
Ans: Mrs. Fitzgerald warns Mrs. Pearson not to go soft again. She advises her not to explain or apologise for acting firmly; instead, she should maintain a stern look or tone occasionally to remind the family she can be strict when she wishes. Consistency is the key to preserving the change.
Q. 26. What advice did Mrs. Fitzgerald give to Mrs. Pearson, to her husband, son and daughter?
Ans: Mrs. Fitzgerald told Mrs. Pearson to be firm and insist on proper treatment from the family. She also taught the husband, son and daughter how they ought to respect and treat their wife and mother-to be polite, considerate and responsible in the home.
Q. 27. Compare and contrast Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald on the basis of the play 'Mother's Day'.
Ans: The two women form a clear contrast. Mrs. Pearson is a pleasant, worried-looking woman in her forties who speaks in a light, flurried suburban tone; she is gentle, patient and easily taken for granted. Mrs. Fitzgerald is older, heavier and more forceful: she has a strong, sinister personality, smokes, and speaks in a deep voice with an Irish tone. Mrs. Fitzgerald is assertive and decisive, while Mrs. Pearson is initially submissive but capable of change.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q. 1. What is the problem confronted by Mrs. Pearson ? Who helps her solve this problem and how ?
Ans: Mrs. Pearson's central problem is that she is neglected and taken for granted by her husband and children. She is devoted to them, performs all household duties and accepts their orders, yet they pay little attention to her needs and assume she will always be there to serve them. Her neighbour, Mrs. Fitzgerald, helps to solve the problem by advising her to be assertive and by performing a dramatic intervention: she persuades Mrs. Pearson to exchange personalities with her through a spell. After the swap, Mrs. Pearson, now adopting Mrs. Fitzgerald's assertive manner, confronts the family firmly, corrects their thoughtless behaviour and establishes proper boundaries. The result is that the family begins to show respect and consideration, and Mrs. Pearson's position in the household improves.
Q. 2. What role did Mr. Fitzgerald play to make Mr. Pearson the boss of the family?
Ans: The question seems to refer to the role of Mrs. Fitzgerald rather than a Mr. Fitzgerald. Mrs. Fitzgerald acts as a catalyst who enables the change: she advises Mrs. Pearson to assert herself and then uses her spell to exchange personalities so that Mrs. Pearson can adopt a more forceful attitude. By temporarily taking on Mrs. Pearson's meek manner, Mrs. Fitzgerald allows the real Mrs. Pearson to behave firmly and put the household in order. In this way Mrs. Fitzgerald's intervention transforms Mrs. Pearson into the effective authority figure of the family.
Q. 3. How does Mrs. Pearson make her daughter Doris miserable ?
Ans: When Doris demands that her mother iron her yellow silk for the evening, she finds her mother unusually indifferent-no tea is ready, her mother is smoking, and she refuses to iron the dress. Moreover, when Doris mentions going out with Charlie Spence, Mrs. Pearson, now assertive, criticises Charlie sharply, calling attention to his buckteeth and implying he is not a suitable companion. These remarks wound Doris, who runs out in tears. Thus, Mrs. Pearson's blunt refusal and direct criticism make Doris feel miserable and ashamed.
Q. 4. What is the reaction of Doris and Cyril to the unusual behaviour of their mother?
Ans: Both Doris and Cyril are astonished and unsettled by their mother's sudden change. They find her cold, indifferent and defiant, which is completely unlike the affectionate, submissive woman they know. Doris suspects something serious-she even imagines a head injury-while Cyril thinks Doris's idea is exaggerated but recognises the behaviour as odd. They are at first amused at how she will behave when their father returns, but they soon realise that their mother's new assertiveness is deliberate and unsettling.
Q. 5. The play 'Mother's Day' is a humorous and satirical depiction of the status of the woman in a family. Bring out briefly the elements of humour and satire.
Ans: The play uses role reversal and situational irony to create humour while satirising domestic life. The central comic device is the exchange of personalities between Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald; watching the meek mother become commanding and the forceful neighbour become timid produces strong comic effect. The dialogue contains sharply witty lines and teasing remarks that expose the family's complacency and hypocrisy. At the same time the play satirises social attitudes to women's work-by treating household labour as an "eight-hour" job and suggesting a weekend strike, it ridicules how domestic duties are undervalued. The result is a light-hearted yet pointed critique of how wives and mothers are taken for granted and the changes required to win respect.
