We Still Haven't Figured This One Out Yet!

Although we may know more than ever before, there are still so many unanswered questions. Is there a God? Where do we go after we die? What is the correct way to govern a country? These types of questions go beyond scientific inquiry. They, as far as we know, cannot be proven or even answered in one way. Therefore, a variety of opinions are inevitably formed based on personal belief. While these opinions do openly exist, we still have not figured out how to accept them and withhold judgment. Today, people will fight for what they believe it. For example, all over the world, the United States is fighting for the right for countries to have a democratic government. With all of this going on, I cannot help but wonder if anyone is really right. Often times, we are quick to go against something that seems so foreign to us. Without even investigating other arguments, we write a view off as morally and ethically wrong or even evil. However, if people are happy with what they believe, and it works for them, who are we to go in and tell them they are wrong?

 I think that as a society, we have been groomed to think that we are always right and everyone else just needs to see our side. While I am not saying that is always the case, we really shouldn’t be forcing our views onto other people. We cannot simply come up with an answer to one of these unanswerable questions and expect everyone to have the same opinion. In a way, we need to learn how to keep to ourselves. Sure we can think one idea is right, but people halfway around the world should be able to agree with a contradicting idea without the hatred and judgment of other people. However, I do not think that this will ever be possible; people are too eager to stand up for their own ideals. While I admire this, this pride makes it hard for people to be open to new things. But we never know, anything can happen.

How Do I Know What I Know?

We as people learn from experience. From the day we are born, we are taught how to behave, move, and socialize. Not only do we learn this from teachers and parents but also from our culture, peers, and society. Through these experiences, we form a sense of self and ideals. However, we all aren’t the same. Families, countries, and individual people develop different religions, customs, and views on controversial issues. Meaning that while we all have similarities, we also develop distinct views and attitudes that make us different from everyone else in the world.  

However, there is one problem with these limited experiences, we learn to value conformity. We are taught to act in accordance to society and in this we lose ourselves. More often than not we chose to wear certain things, follow a certain ideal, or react in a specific way because this will help us fit in. We become quick to judge those who are different and fear to venture from “normal” or “right.”

Then the question of “how do we know what is right?” comes in. With so many opinions flying at us for a variety of sources, how do we know who and what to believe? It is easy to say that water is polar and the earth revolves around the sun because it is supported by scientific evidence. But what about the unknowns? How should I respond in this situation? Is God real? Do mermaids exist? This is where I think personal opinion comes to matter. Sure we can learn the facts, but in some cases, we may never know the truth. To some extend we have to be able to form our own opinions and ignore the judgment of others. In the end, we are influenced by what we see, but how we interpret it all makes us unique.

The Garden State

          At the end of the book, Candide and his friends embrace the farming lifestyle. Each of the characters develops a skill and contributes to the cultivation of a garden so that they can survive and to an extent, avoid the misery of the world. This concept draws back to the story of Adam and Eve as Pangloss states, “for when man was placed in the Garden of Eden, he was put there to work it and dress it” (page 93). However, while Adam and Eve’s troubles begin in the garden as they eat the apple, Candide’s troubles seem to come to an end in his garden. Throughout the book, Candide sees and experiences the evils of the world as he is cheated, punished, almost killed, and lost friends. He realizes that the superficial things in life such as money or power cannot really bring happiness and that no matter where you go misery will be prevalent; the garden provides an escape from the superficial and immoral aspects of life. While he doesn’t whole-heatedly give up Pangloss’s philosophy, he definitely becomes lost, as he doesn’t know what to believe in anymore.

            The garden, to me, symbolizes a place where the characters form a compromise. By participating in the hard work that comes with cultivating a garden, they get to escape the three evils, boredom, vice, and necessity, and no longer have time to truly argue about the true meaning of life and the roles of good and evil. Candide doesn’t have to examine his own thoughts and ideals anymore; all he has to focus on is cultivating the garden. This shows that he is done trying to find out who or what holds the power over everyone. When it comes down to it, everyone will have his or her own opinion and no one can really be right or wrong.

I also see the garden as a place where the characters draw away from civilization. They take this modest path in order to get away from the misery that reins in the world and form a life that they can be content with. In a way this ending shows that the best of all possible worlds cannot exist. Throughout the book, every society seemed to have a problem. From corruption and greed, to not being able to leave (Eldorado) no place can be perfect. Candide now accepts this and is ready to settle down in a place where he can have control over his own life in a way he can be reasonably happy with.