In the pearl by steinback what is the reference to mountain and the sea tell you about men and women in this culture/time period?

Chapter please?

chapter 5

He had said, "I am a man," and that meant certain things to Juana. It meant that he was half insane and half god. It meant that Kino would drive his strength against a mountain and plunge his strength against the sea. Juana, in her woman's soul, knew that the mountain would stand while the man broke himself; that the sea would surge while the man drowned in it.

From this, we can infer that it is the woman's role to defer to her husband's desire. The husband is the leader of the family; the wife follows his lead without question. We also learn that the men are unreasonable in their desire to be manly..... impetuous, foolhardy, disillussioned.