Goddess of weedpatch

In chapters 20-26, ma joad really starts to take charge of the family as pa's decisiveness withers; especially at weedpatch when a lot of stuff falls on her shoulders. She says that she can only maintain herself so long as tom does not reach for her. Is this ma as gaia with tom as antaeus. in myth, gaia also quarreled with her husbands for holding her children back. So even though pa joad hasn't imprisoned the joad children in the pits of hell, there may be some symbols here? even if you think it's crazy, i'd like to hear your comments if they're nice.