Answer:
The play 'Mother's Day' by J.B. Priestley sheds light on the status of women in society during the early 20th century. The play is set in the year 1918, just after the end of World War I, and revolves around the lives of three women - Mrs. Cotterel, her daughter Janet, and her daughter-in-law Edith.
During this time period, women were still struggling for basic rights and freedoms. They were not allowed to vote or hold public office, and their roles were largely limited to that of a homemaker and caregiver. Women were expected to marry and have children, and their worth was often measured by their ability to do so.
In the play, we see Mrs. Cotterel as a traditional woman who has accepted her role in society. She is content with her life as a homemaker and does not question her place in society. However, her daughter Janet is more progressive and desires more from life than just marriage and motherhood. She wants to pursue a career and make something of herself.
Janet's desire for independence is met with resistance from her mother, who believes that a woman's place is in the home. This conflict between traditional values and modern aspirations highlights the struggle that many women faced during this time period.