Evil Candide? (2 of a series of 3, begun at http://candide.nypl.org/text/chapter-9#7 )

It is worth noting that it does not occur to Candide, laden with riches at this point in his journey, to offer aid to the very miserable fellow he has just passed on the road. Furnished “with more treasure than the king of Spain will ever be possessed of” by Candide’s own estimation, he does not consider the possibility of offering aid to the man, or waiting for the master in order to buy the man’s freedom; instead, he goes right on to contract routine business with a sea captain who goes by the same name as the slave-master (Vanderdedur). Candide will reduce suffering by dispensing a little of his great wealth in Chapter 26, giving charity to the deposed King Theodore of Corsica, who was actually a German adventurer who created that throne through commercial sponsorship, then managed to hang onto it for eight months. Perhaps tragedy is too deep: Candide instead engages in farce.

Perhaps Voltaire is commenting quietly upon his own failing here, as well as that of his society. His bleak picture of the slave’s plight indicates his understanding of the sugar plantations. Yet one of the richest men in Europe would not curb his habit, and so would knowingly contribute to slavery and the suffering of others for the sake of luxury.
Final installment of Evil Candide is at the final line of the work: http://candide.nypl.org/text/chapter-30#23

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