Candide's statement "let us cultivate our garden" signifies a shift from his previous optimism to a more practical philosophy. It suggests that individuals should focus on nurturing their own lives or minds, staying productive, and finding contentment in personal labor and close relationships, rather than seeking fortune or trying to change the world. This approach offers a way to avoid life's evils by focusing on simple, meaningful work.

Cunegonde's loss of beauty in Candide symbolizes Candide's disillusionment and the satirical critique of Optimism. Initially idealized, Cunegonde represents Candide's naive belief in perfection taught by Pangloss. Her transformation into an unattractive and bitter woman mirrors Candide's realization of the flawed nature of the world and the fallacy of his optimistic ideals. This shift emphasizes Voltaire's criticism of blindly following idealistic philosophies.

Voltaire portrays greed as a main cause of evil by illustrating how it leads to exploitation and misery. In Candide, the utopian land of Eldorado is untouched by European greed, but once Candide leaves, he encounters swindlers and corrupt officials who exploit his wealth. This greed-driven exploitation reflects the broader theme of how avarice leads to suffering and moral corruption, as seen in the actions of priests, aristocrats, and judges throughout the narrative.

The themes of the old woman's story in Candide are: one cannot depend that things will always stay the same: being rich and famous one day does not necessarily guarantee that this will not change, even though we may believe our troubles are awful, there is always someone with difficulties worse than our own, even when we hate our lives and think it would be better to be dead, we still hold on to life; while there is life, there is still hope. These themes are all realistic ideas and experiences. The reader should feel thankful for what they have when they have it, and remain hopeful for a positive future.

Candide's philosophic attitude changes from that of Pangloss's rational optimism to a Voltairian empiricism.

Candide, which was first published in 1759, is a satirical tale that begins in the castle of Baron Thunder-ten-Tronck. The main character, Candide (meaning "without care") is educated and raised by Dr. Pangloss who believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. As a result of this philosophy, Candide lives with optimism and hope despite the many setbacks he faces throughout his life . Candide's optimism is challenged when he witnesses the execution of Captain Cunegonde by hanging. When Candide meets her later on in Venice he falls madly in love with her and fights for her honor when she is accused of theft.

The text addresses major issues such as the critique of philosophical optimism, as represented by Pangloss's belief that "all is for the best in this, the best of all possible worlds." Voltaire challenges this idea through Candide's misfortunes, advocating for human agency and pragmatism. He also critiques institutions like religion and war, suggesting the futility of abstract debates in favor of practical action, encapsulated in Candide's conclusion to "cultivate our garden."

The El Dorado sequence in Candide highlights the theme of utopias contrasted with the flawed reality of European society. El Dorado is a land free from greed and corruption, offering harmony and abundance, unlike the cruelty and hypocrisy elsewhere. Despite its perfection, Candide rejects El Dorado, driven by greed and the desire for status. This decision reflects human nature's tendency to create misfortune even in ideal circumstances, underscoring Voltaire's satire of human irrationality and greed.

Voltaire's main question in Candide is whether the philosophy of optimism is viable given the world's tragedies. Through satire, he critiques this belief, particularly through Pangloss, a caricature of Leibniz's optimistic philosophy. Voltaire argues that optimism is illogical amidst suffering and destruction. Ultimately, Candide abandons optimism for pragmatism, symbolized by tending his garden, reflecting Voltaire's belief that optimism is absurd and deserving of ridicule.

Voltaire's criticism of the Enlightenment and its optimism is evident in his novel.