The concluding chapter of Candide works to provide an answer to humanity’s question of

how one’s life should be lived in order to maximize its quality, which is ultimately that there is no
correct answer to this eternal question.
The final chapter of Voltaire’s piece depicts the main characters to have finally reached an end to
their hardship and suffering, as they are now in a peaceful environment devoid of harm. However,
this environment which lacks adventure was told to have bored the characters, as they had even
wondered if experiencing boredom is worse than “to be whipped and hanged” (140). Voltaire
includes this comparison of ‘which event is worse’ in order to highlight the dissatisfaction of the
characters, and ultimately portray the belief that they will never be satisfied. As Candide had been in
search of riches, peace, and Lady Cunegonde throughout the entirety of his adventures, the author
depicts this determination and persistent mindset to be the factor which motivates and excites
Candide to continue his journey relentlessly. Yet, once Candide is finally shown to have attained his
goals, he is left stricken with boredom, and finds his life unsatisfactory. The author uses this ironic
situation to not only mock the tendencies of both philosophers and ordinary humans to be engrossed
in self indulgence and seek goals which would solely benefit them, but to work towards the
contradictory belief in that the answer to true happiness in life cannot be attained entirely through
accomplishments. In order to prevent further boredom, the solution offered to Candide by an old man
is to work, which leads to Candide’s final statement issuing that “we must go and work in the
garden” (144). Voltaire included this concluding quote in order to further demonstrate how the key to
a peak quality of life cannot be gained through success, or through alleged knowledge. As suggested
similarly by the dervish, who had believed that the answer to a happy life cannot simply be instructed
but experienced, both had provided common advice depicting that the ultimate way to live life varies
from each person, and it is foolish to seek one correct answer. The author ultimately concludes the
story by mocking Candide’s inability to follow this advice and search for his own answer to life,
which exemplifies the foolishness of philosophers and their followers’ reluctance to formulate their
own beliefs, which ends Candide in a pessimistic outlook.
Robin Bowman, in writing a satirical essay which analyzed the several interpreted endings to
Candide, demonstrated her own interpretation which is that the conclusion to the story is ambiguous
and could be argued towards both the pessimistic and optimistic sides of the philosophical argument,
as even Voltaire was unsure of his belief and the correct answer to the ways of life. Bowman had
interpreted the last line of the story, being “All that is very well, but let us cultivate our garden” in
that it was made to be left for reader interpretation due to his own uncertainty, as Voltaire had
demonstrated optimistic qualities within his personality is his lifetime as well as the contrasting
rejection optimism in his story. Bowman, having conducted extensive research, noted that Voltaire
had been a figure which advocated for change in society. Voltaire having written a story given the
purpose to mock the philosophy of optimism and change is depicted as confusing to Bowman, and
she concludes that he himself was unsure of his own beliefs. This further works to convey the similar
belief that Voltaire viewed the eternal question of content in life as unsolvable.
By highlighting the prevalent inner conflict within the author, this further opened the final
interpretation of his story to be able to be considered in both lights, being through both an optimistic
and pessimistic viewpoint, therefore leaving the ultimate answer to life from Voltaire’s perspective
being instead ambiguous for his readers to decide on their own, similarly reflected in the old man’s
teachings.