Ma and pa’s children and her relationship with them Noah- Noah has a disability and so, even though he is the oldest child, he is treated younger. Ma doesn't have a very close relationship. She worries that he can’t look after himself and when he goes off she says to tom “But how’ll he eat?” Tom- It could be said that Tom is her ‘favourite’ child, she mentions how tom is a favourite of Grandpa Joad’s “Tom’s a favourite of his’”. Ma and Tom have a lot of talks, they have a dance and share a lot of feelings; tom says “Ma you were never like this ‘fore” and Ma says “I never had my house pushed over, I never had my fambly stuck out on the road, and I never had to sell- everything!” . Also she gives a lot of advice to him “Don’t go fighting them alone” and “you’ve gotta go away” when Tom gets into a fight !

Al- He is at the age where he is just becoming a man, and when he says he isn’t going on and going to stay with a girl, ma is proud. She doesn’t give Al much praise for all the work he does, like with the truck and also finding a girl maybe because she is too busy trying to look after Tom and everybody else. Even at the end ma says goodbye to al and then says “If you see Tom...”

Rose of Sharon- Ma says “I haven’t had a lot of time to take you in hand but I will”, Ma wants Rosashaun to grow up a lovely young women, she tries to make her stronger by telling her to ‘stop crying’ and “you gotta get a hold of yourself”. Often makes her peel potatoes and help “get the plates on the table” Ma doesn't have any sympathy that she is pregnant and she is being cruel to be kind!
Ma persuading Roshashaurn to carry on to California 
Winfield- he is the youngest and so Ma is still sympathetic and bossy towards him... Ma asks Winfield to help with the plates, and tells him to “git” when Rosashaun goes into labour. But she also lets him rest on her in the truck, and tells him ‘softly’ how there is no baby (when Rosashaun loses it !)

Other characters and their relationships with Ma Pa Joad- Husband, after the farm and house was taken, Pa took a knock, Pa looks to Ma before he makes any decisions; like when he asks her if we can “feed an extra mouth”. He lets Ma take the dominant role, and Ma is seen to look after Grandma and Grandpa, even though they are Pa’s parents!

Uncle john- Pa’s brother, she also gives him advice; she tells him not to burden other people with his’ sins and to go down to the river and whisper them into the stream!

Grandpa- Pa’s dad, she cares for him, loves him as if he was he own father, even though he is Pa’s.
 Grandpa's funeral

Grandma- Pa’s mum, ma also takes care of her, ma cradles her in the back of the truck when she dies and is upset when she dies but says “she got to lay her head down in calafornia” Ma with Roshashaurn looking after Grandma in  Act 1

Reverend (John) Casy- Ma has respect for him as he used to be involved in the church. She might want him to be part of the family because she believes he is leading Tom in the right way. She says to Al about Casy; “you’ll be glad of that preacher before we’re through, that preacher’ll help us”

Connie- Rosashan’s husband, Ma and him don’t talk. Maybe this is because Ma respects Pa and Pa doesn't like Casy. Ma probably knew from the start what connie would do (he would leave Rosashaurn)