In The Odyssey, part of the story, taken out of context, can be quite interesting, if not meaningful, as it is applied to both religious faith, and human psychology. Let’s take a look.
In book 6 of The Odyssey, the audience is introduced to Nausicaä, a princess. Athena sends Nausicaä a dream. In this dream she is reminded of her duties to her family, which includes going to the beachside to wash the family’s clothes. Nausicaä decides to go do some laundry with her maids when she wakes from the dream.
When the princess goes, she finds Odysseus. This is when Nausicaä decides to help him, although her maids run in fear. Athena gave the princess wisdom and courage in this frightening moment. Athena leads this woman to Odysseus of her own free will to assist in Athena’s greater plan, which in some ways mirrors the Christian God.
The Christian God is viewed as an all-powerful being. He can choose to take away people’s free will. He can interfere at any time. Within religion, it is always a question how much the greater being does interfere, how much of your life is your own, how much of your life was part of this greater plan and always meant to be? In this story, Athena does interfere, but she never takes away anyone’s choice to do what Athena wills. She simply makes it so she doesn’t have to.
So once again, you can find meaning in the story to apply to yourself. No matter what you believe in, you can have these overwhelming feelings that cause you to do what is ultimately right. Sometimes it's your free will and your value system. Sometimes it's your free will and divine providence, in spite of your own natural instincts.
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