When writing a book how could you finish it without going on with the story? just curious if anyone knows.

Often times, the reader simply wants to see a happy ending to the story.  For example, if the main character is involved in a love story, they want to see the couple married, living in the perfect house, and starting a family.  If it is a mystery, the reader wants to see it solved and the character living happily.  As long as there is a finality to the story (possibly a death or a fresh start at a new life), the reader doesn't need the story to go on.  

the servant does not kill the child oedipus as he was ordered to do because "he pitied the child" based on the oedipus rex story. the servant was ordered to kill the child because of the prophecy that predicted king laius' death. the king already had attempted to hurt oedipus by piercing oedipus's ankle. however, the servant did not finish the job and he rather saved the baby oedipus.

explanation: