In Salman Rushdie's novel "The Enchantress of Florence," the protagonist experiences a brutal cycle of torture followed by a period of confinement. After enduring the harsh treatment, he is placed back into a jail cell, where the captors act as if he has been forgotten, leaving him in a state of uncertainty and despair.

Eventually, he is released, but not to freedom or honor. Instead, he finds himself thrust into a life marked by shame and obscurity, symbolizing a return to a mundane existence filled with unremarkable domesticity. This transformation illustrates the deep impact of his previous suffering and the complex nature of freedom and identity.