In Candide, the titular character attempts to gain happiness while going through a series of unfortunate events. The book ends with the famous quote, “Excellently observed,’ answered Candide; ‘but let us cultivate our garden.’" However, this quote raises several questions about happiness and what it means. There are several interpretations including those written about by Darnton. This also ties in to modern ideas of happiness and even the Declaration of Independence.
Literature throughout history has used a garden as a metaphor for society. A well-kept garden would signify an orderly society. Weeds in a king’s garden could mean traitors or uprisings. Following this logic, tending or cultivating a garden could easily be a metaphor for improving society. In this sense, Candide and his group of friends found happiness through improving their society. This idea is found in one of Darnton’s four possible interpretations.
Robert Darnton wrote The Pursuit of Happiness in 1995. It talked about Candide, the Declaration of Independence, the idea of happiness, and how happiness should be attained. In it, he mentions four possible interpretations of Candide’s famous quote. One is “cultural engagement” which, according to Darnton, is the idea that “cultivation means commitment to the cause of civilization”. Presumably, through this, Candide and his companions achieved happiness. Another document that is an attempt to improve society is the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence is an attempt by the emerging United States to improve their society by removing themselves from the rule of the English. In this document, certain rights are given to the people. These include “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. The pursuit is promised, but not the actual happiness. This is due to the fact that no one can truly give happiness to you, you must attain it yourself. Candide does this and the people of the United States attempt it through improving their society. This idea has not been left behind in the past.
In modern times, ways to find happiness are advertised everywhere. In ads you are told that if you buy this product, then it will give you happiness. Movies have more variety, but romance seems to be a common theme in relation to happiness. However, some ideas fit perfectly with Candide’s statement. In the book series, Lorien Legacies, a group of aliens named by number and called the Garde fight another group, called the Mogadorians, in an attempt to regain their homeland and restart their society. Many of the Garde find temporary happiness in different societies on Earth, however they are taken away by the Mogadorians and they all must fight to form their own society. This is evidence of the idea that you must improve your own society to achieve happiness as the Garde never quite fit in while part of human society. They are forced to form their own and hope to achieve happiness that way.
The Lorien Legacies series, Declaration of Independence, Darnton, and Candide all point to the same way to find happiness. It is to improve your society and therefore your life in it. While they all do this in very different ways, the message still comes across loud and clear. This is the meaning of Candide’s last line and quite possibly the secret of happiness that so many people search for.
Literature throughout history has used a garden as a metaphor for society. A well-kept garden would signify an orderly society. Weeds in a king’s garden could mean traitors or uprisings. Following this logic, tending or cultivating a garden could easily be a metaphor for improving society. In this sense, Candide and his group of friends found happiness through improving their society. This idea is found in one of Darnton’s four possible interpretations.
Robert Darnton wrote The Pursuit of Happiness in 1995. It talked about Candide, the Declaration of Independence, the idea of happiness, and how happiness should be attained. In it, he mentions four possible interpretations of Candide’s famous quote. One is “cultural engagement” which, according to Darnton, is the idea that “cultivation means commitment to the cause of civilization”. Presumably, through this, Candide and his companions achieved happiness. Another document that is an attempt to improve society is the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence is an attempt by the emerging United States to improve their society by removing themselves from the rule of the English. In this document, certain rights are given to the people. These include “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. The pursuit is promised, but not the actual happiness. This is due to the fact that no one can truly give happiness to you, you must attain it yourself. Candide does this and the people of the United States attempt it through improving their society. This idea has not been left behind in the past.
In modern times, ways to find happiness are advertised everywhere. In ads you are told that if you buy this product, then it will give you happiness. Movies have more variety, but romance seems to be a common theme in relation to happiness. However, some ideas fit perfectly with Candide’s statement. In the book series, Lorien Legacies, a group of aliens named by number and called the Garde fight another group, called the Mogadorians, in an attempt to regain their homeland and restart their society. Many of the Garde find temporary happiness in different societies on Earth, however they are taken away by the Mogadorians and they all must fight to form their own society. This is evidence of the idea that you must improve your own society to achieve happiness as the Garde never quite fit in while part of human society. They are forced to form their own and hope to achieve happiness that way.
The Lorien Legacies series, Declaration of Independence, Darnton, and Candide all point to the same way to find happiness. It is to improve your society and therefore your life in it. While they all do this in very different ways, the message still comes across loud and clear. This is the meaning of Candide’s last line and quite possibly the secret of happiness that so many people search for.