f the killing of two intimate advisors of the sultan, andthey ask the Turkish farmer if he could give them more details about thesituation. "I know nothing of it, said the good man, and I have never cared to knowthe name of a single mufti [advisor] or vizier[sultan]... I presume that in general those who meddle in public business sometimes perish miserably, and that they deserve their fate; but I am satisfied with sending the fruits of my garden there." (Voltaire76)Upon learning that this man did not own "an enormous and splendid property"(Voltaire 76), but rather a mere twenty acres that he cultivates with hischildren, Candide is startled. He sees that the man is happy with his life,and at that point Candide decides to build his own life around the principal ofbeing productive. He decides that all he needs to be happy is a garden tocultivate so that he, too, can keep from the three great evils.Candide's garden symbolizes his surrender to the world and hisacceptance of it. He eventually realizes that his former ambitions of findingand achieving a perfect state of happiness were fulfilled, though his successeswere not as great as he had wished. Instead, he has found happiness in a simpleway of life. He also learns that everything in life is not evil, which heperceived to be the case while undergoing misfortunes. He also concludes thatDr. Pangloss was right all along, "everything is for the best."Throughout the entire book, we observe Candide searching for happiness,sustained by his dream of achieving that happiness. He believes, in hisoptimistic way, that he will find Cunegonde, his true love, and Dr. Pangloss,his mentor, and all will be well. When Candide is reunited with both herealizes that he was right not to lose hope. In essence, it was Candide'soptimism that keeps him from a state of total dejection, maintaining his sanityduring troubled times. Candide eventually achieves happiness with...
