After obtaining his freedom, he returned to Spain where he began to write. He met many kinds of people as he travelled around Spain, and he gained an understanding of human nature that enabled him to contemplate the conflict between hope and disillusionment, and dreams and reality - a conflict reflected in Don Quichotte and other works.

Cervantes didn't publish anything for eight years but during the last three years of his life he published several stories. In the introduction of his last work 'Persiles and Sigismunda' he foresaw his death and offered his farewell to life.