In this excerpt from "Don Quixote de la Mancha," the author Miguel de Cervantes critiques the practice of giving freedom to enslaved individuals only when they are no longer useful for labor. This act is portrayed as a cruel illusion of freedom, as it leaves them vulnerable and without support, essentially condemning them to a life of poverty and starvation. The act of freeing them serves more as a way to alleviate the masters' burdens than a genuine consideration for their well-being.

Cervantes highlights the moral implications of such actions, emphasizing that true freedom involves responsibilities and support for those who have been oppressed. The passage critiques a societal structure that prioritizes exploitation over compassion, suggesting that mere liberation without care leads to a form of enslavement determined by hunger and deprivation. The author calls for a deeper understanding of freedom that includes security and dignity for all individuals.