SOURCE: Rodríguez-Luis, Julio. “On Closure and Openendedness in the Two Quijotes.” In On Cervantes: Essays for L. A. Murillo, edited by James A. Parr, pp. 227-40. Newark, Del.: Juan de la Cuesta, 1991.

In the following essay, Rodríguez-Luis examines the narrative function and implication of the endings of the two parts of Don Quixote to offer insights into the composition of the work as a whole.

The question of closure in Don Quijote has received minimal attention in spite of its importance for understanding the composition of the work.¹ Studying the narrative function and the implications of Don Quijote's ending, or, more appropriately, endings, since the book is composed of two distinct parts separated by a ten year hiatus, not only illuminates the structure of Cervantes' masterpiece, but also its author's intentions.

Narrative endings express our deeply ingrained belief in an order organized through causality toward...