Two Little Soldiers - by Guy de Maupassant (Grade 11 English- New Course)

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Luc and Jean are two young recruiters, who habitually spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks, out in the countryside. They would repeat the same ritual every Sunday as the woods and peaceful setting remind them of home. Sometimes, they also bring their breakfast set, which includes food and wine. They seem to be so glad on doing that. They lay back and enjoy the natural surroundings for hours and chat.

"It's just like home, just like Plounivon."

"Yes, it's just like home."

In their ritual, there enter a young and pretty looking village girl, who has got a pastoral lifestyle. She brings her cow to the pastureland through the same way. So, every Sunday, she meets these young soldiers, speaks to them and while returning, she brings the cow's milk to them. They befriended with the girl, who promises to meet them the following Sunday.

The next weekend, when Luc and Jeans are about to head towards the countryside, Luc suggests that they should bring something to the lady, who usually offers cow's milk. Then they came with a conclusion to bring candy (bonbons) to her. But, when they meet the girl they become too shy to tell that they have brought something for her as well. Finally, Luc tells her about the treat and Jeans hands over the bonbons.

Time passes on. For these young soldiers, the beautiful village girl becomes a topic in their regular conversation. They spend time together at the barracks and talk about the girls. Later on, these soldiers became close friend to the girl. She also shares the breakfast with them as her usual schedule is to bring the cows to the pasture.





Then, in an uncharacteristic move, Luc starts to take leave unusually, even on a Tuesday, and again the following Thursday. He asks money from Jean and does not provide any explanations why he was taking that money. But Jean lends money to Luc.

Another Sunday, when they go to the woods, the girls appears with her cow and shows a surprising move. She rushes towards Luc, embraces ardently. She places her pail on the ground and kisses him. She kisses him passionately, throwing her arms around his neck, without paying attention to Jean, without even noticing that he was there. This is not what Jean expected. He is hurt by the scene because the girl does not react towards Jean and the girl turns all her attention to Luc.

Then Luc and the girl go off to attend the cow and disappear into the woods for a long time. Jean is stupefied. Then he sees them coming back again. They are walking slowly, hand in hand, as village lovers do. Luc is carrying the pail. After kissing him again, the girl goes on, nodding carelessly to Jean. She does not offer him any milk that day.

While coming back to the barracks, these soldiers do not speak about the incident. On the way back, they stop on the bridge over the Seine, motionless as always, silent and quiet, their calm faces in no way betraying the trouble in their hearts. Jean leans over toward the water; farther than he should in Luc’s judgment. In a very moment, Jean's head carries away the rest of his body, and the little blue and red soldier fell like a shot and disappeared in the water.



Luc can do nothing; he watches in anguish as his good friend drowns. Emotion chokes him so that he could say no more.

 

Themes

Love Triangle

In “Two Little Soldiers,” the tragedy of the traditional “love triangle” is brought into sharp focus, and we as readers, offer sympathies soon to these young recruiters, whose lives get changed right after the arrival of a young and beautiful village girl. They both were attracted towards her.

 

Conflict between friendship and love

The magnificent friendship bonding between these two soldiers ultimately breaks down and a conflict takes place after the arrival of the village girl. The story clearly shows that two persons cannot love the same person. Their genuine bond with the things they do together, share the feelings of joy and pain, does not last for a long time. Both are smitten by the young girl who befriends them. To win the girl, however, one of them must “betray” the bond of friendship; it is impossible that they keep on loving the same girl forever.

 

Analysis

The story 'Two Little Soldiers' is about a triangular love with a completely unexpected twist at the end. This story shows the compatibility of friendship and romantic love with change, discontent, conflict, betrayal and jealousy.

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