Candide+Essay

Alan Fan Explain and support your interpretation of Candide’s final statement “but let us cultivate our garden.” in relation to the novel as a whole and contemporary society here in the United States of America.

Candide was written by well known Enlightenment author, Voltaire. Voltaire wrote this book as a satire to mock optimism and the Old Regime’s society and traditions. The novel’s main character, Candide, goes through a series of adventures which will contradict Pangloss’ idea of optimism. Candide pursued happiness in his adventures. During the end of the noval, Candide’s teacher, the prime optimist Pangloss, argued that they were happy, but Candide responded by saying “but let us cultivate our garden.” This final statement explains the idea that happiness is worked for, and that the work is the joy. This quote is also related to the United States and its contemporary society. Candide found his happiness with the beautiful Cunegonde who he loved. After discovering Cunegonde was alive, he went on a jorney to be with his love, thus pursuing happiness. His quest led him to incredible adventures of fortune, misfortune, and meeting of new people. Once he reunites with Cunegonde again, she had turned ugly. In turn, Candide found the end result disappointing, however, his quest around the world was what gave him excitement and knowledge. Candide then finally settles down in a small farm with his fellow followers and found joy in cultivating the garden. Pangloss then stated that they were happy now they have settled and fate brought them there as everything happens for the good, but Candide, enlightened by his journeys, responds by saying they must work. Candide’s statement presents two ideas, happiness is found in work not the end result and one must work to get an end result no matter the outcome. His journeys symbolized a man’s work, as one can work hard in the fields, but his crops may not be successful just like Candide going around the world to find Cunegonde who ends up ugly. Candide’s experiences and quote can also relate to America’s contemporary society. The pursuit of happiness is a right proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence and is an essential part of the American society. Candide’s statement fits in with the idea of pursuing happiness. One may not find happiness in the end result, so one should find joy in one’s work. Candide does just that as his main source of happiness, Cunegonde, turns out to be unappealing, so found delight in his quest. It presents an idea of working hard no matter what.