Peru

Peru is named as the home of The Judge’s second brother, whose prosperity has materially benefited the family. Though the novel gives no further description of the place, this single reference makes Peru an important point in the brothers’ account of their different paths and fortunes.

The Family Connection

The Judge explains that his second brother is in Peru and has become wealthy. Money sent from there repaid the family portion the brother had taken with him and gave their father additional means to exercise his generosity. The Judge also credits this support with enabling him to pursue his studies more respectably and achieve his present standing.

Narrative Significance

The reference to Peru occurs as The Judge learns that the captive captain is his eldest brother. Against the uncertainty surrounding that brother’s whereabouts and welfare, the second brother’s established prosperity offers a contrast: one sibling has sent resources home, while the family still longs for news of the other. Peru thus enters the story through the practical consequences of distance—money and family support—rather than through a description of the place itself.