In the novel Mantissa, we follow Miles Green, the main character, a male fiction writer, with strong masculine views. Throughout the novel Miles, and Erato, the beautiful muse, have an on going power struggle which in turn creates a sexual energy between both characters. Miles for most of the novel controls Erato, but Erato eventually rejects the idea of a muse after being disgusted on how Miles was portraying her, and in part II becomes an ultra feminist, wearing a black leather jacket and boots, becoming a punk rocker. Through this, Erato takes control and defines her power. However, Miles, the writer has the ultimate control of Erato.
At one point in the novel, Erato states “Darling, you mustn’t feel jealous just because my one clumsy little attempt at writing has become a kind of a fluke best-seller”
This follows by Miles arguing that the Odyssey must be written by a man because of its brilliance. This goes against the theory that there is no connection between the author and the text.
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