Although much of 17th and 18th century literature offers the reader comfort in a perfectly happy ending, Volatire’s Candide alters the happily ever after that other characters might receive. With dark humor, the ending of Candide seems less than ideal, especially after the amount of suffering Candide the other characters endured. However, Candide survives his experience learned, and his ideals changed. The ending of Candide is fulfilling through Candide’s moral and spiritual development, as Candide alter his values and learns to move forward from his experiences, finds a more realistic outlook to life, and learns the value of hard work.
Through experience, Candide learns to move forward from suffering instead of wasting time contemplating upon his fortunes. Although trialed by his journey, there are many instances where Candide is humbled in his self-pity by the far more distressing stories of other characters. The old woman, “born a Baroness” (Volatire 18), suffered twice as much and continues to live on. All other main characters, from Cunegonde to Pangloss, suffered as well. Throughout the course of Candide’s journey, it is often that Candide wishes to renounce his optimism, believing his suffering to be too great. After hearing the stories of others and experiencing the humble and hard working life of a farmer and his family, Candide conclusively realizes that there is no reason to ponder on his suffering. Many have felt worse suffering than he, and instead of wishing for an idealistic world or even for his life to return to the peacefulness it once was, it is better to move on and accept his problems. Candide learns that the world is not a perfect place, and allowing his suffering to hold him back will result in no gain. In addition for his newly found realistic and forward moving attitude, Candide learns the value of hard work and the true struggles of survival. In his sheltered life in Westphalia, Candide only learns of what the world is like without any trialing experience, and therefore clung steadily onto Pangloss’s philosophy that this world is “the best of all possible worlds” (Volatire 2). He also ends his journey with a privileged sum of money. After speaking with the dervish, Candide realizes that all the time he spends after his journey “arguing metaphysics and morals” with Maritin and Pangloss (Voltaire 73) is pointless, and they should instead “hold their tongue” (Voltaire 74). Meeting the simple minded farmer reaffirms that he has too much time on his hands, and a simple minded and hard working life is more satisfying. Candide resolves to work hard to cultivate his garden for survival. Furthermore, Candide gradually discards his philosophy of optimism, living life with hard work unhindered by philosophy. Throughout the course of his journey, Candide continuously depends on a happy