The image of the Garden of Eden is indeed central to the story: there is the false paradise of Thunder-ten-tronckh at the beginning and the garden Candide cultivates at the end. read more
But he may also be suggesting that, though Candide hasn’t realized this yet, fulfilment requires purposive activity of some kind, and it isn’t clear what Candide could actually do in Eldorado. In that light, Eldorado would be a false Eden. read more
El Dorado is significant in its ability to highlight the unfortunate realities of the world beyond its borders. Nevertheless, the land is too good to be true, and so it's unreal to Candide and Cacambo. read more