Two Little Soldiers Guy de Maupassant

 Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a popular 19thcentury

French writer. His short stories are characterized

by their economy of style and their efficient effortless

dénouement. His stories are linked by irony and the

frailty of human nature. He was an author of the realist

and naturalist schools of writing. He wrote novels, poetry

and newspapers articles, but he is best known for his short

stories in the field of literature.

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.

Reading

Every Sunday, as soon as they were free, the little soldiers would go for a walk. They

turned to the right on leaving the barracks, crossed Courbevoie with rapid strides, as

though on a forced march; then, as the houses grew scarcer, they slowed down and

followed the dusty road which leads to Bezons.

They were small and thin, lost in their ill-fitting capes, too large and too long,

whose sleeves covered their hands; their ample red trousers fell in folds around their

ankles. Under the high, stiff shako one could just barely perceive two thin, hollowcheeked

Breton faces, with their calm, naïve blue eyes. They never spoke during their

journey, going straight before them, the same idea in each one's mind taking the place

of conversation. For at the entrance of the little forest of Champioux they had found a

spot which reminded them of home, and they did not feel happy anywhere else.

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At the crossing of the Colombes and Chatou roads, when they arrived under the trees,

they would take off their heavy, oppressive headgear and wipe their foreheads.

They always stopped for a while on the bridge at Bezons, and looked at the Seine. They

stood there several minutes, bending over the railing, watching the white sails, which

perhaps reminded them of their home, and of the fishing smacks leaving for the open.

As soon as they had crossed the Seine, they would purchase provisions at the

delicatessen, the baker's, and the wine merchant's. A piece of bologna, four cents'

worth of bread, and a quart of wine, made up the luncheon which they carried away,

wrapped up in their handkerchiefs. But as soon as they were out of the village their gait

would slacken and they would begin to talk.

Before them was a plain with a few clumps of trees, which led to the woods, a little

forest which seemed to remind them of that other forest at Kermarivan. The wheat and

oat fields bordered on the narrow path, and Jean Kerderen said each time to Luc Le

Ganidec:

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

"Yes, it's just like home."

And they went on, side by side, their minds full of dim memories of home. They saw

the fields, the hedges, the forests, and beaches.

Each time they stopped near a large stone on the edge of the private estate, because it

reminded them of the dolmen of Locneuven.

As soon as they reached the first clump of trees, Luc Le Ganidec would cut off a small

stick, and, whittling it slowly, would walk on, thinking of the folks at home.

Jean Kerderen carried the provisions.

From time to time Luc would mention a name, or allude to some boyish prank which

would give them food for plenty of thought. And the home country, so dear and so

distant, would little by little gain possession of their minds, sending them back through

space, to the well-known forms and noises, to the familiar scenery, with the fragrance

of its green fields and sea air. They no longer noticed the smells of the city. And in

their dreams they saw their friends leaving, perhaps forever, for the dangerous fishing

grounds.

They were walking slowly, Luc Le Ganidec and Jean Kerderen, contented and sad,

haunted by a sweet sorrow, the slow and penetrating sorrow of a captive animal which

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remembers the days of its freedom.

And when Luc had finished whittling his stick, they came to a little nook, where every

Sunday they took their meal. They found the two bricks, which they had hidden in a

hedge, and they made a little fire of dry branches and roasted their sausages on the

ends of their knives.

When their last crumb of bread had been eaten and the last drop of wine had been

drunk, they stretched themselves out on the grass side by side, without speaking, their

half-closed eyes looking away in the distance, their hands clasped as in prayer, their

red-trousered legs mingling with the bright colours of the wild flowers.

Towards noon they glanced, from time to time, towards the village of Bezons, for the

dairy maid would soon be coming. Every Sunday she would pass in front of them on

the way to milk her cow, the only cow in the neighbourhood which was sent out to

pasture.

Soon they would see the girl, coming through the fields, and it pleased them to watch

the sparkling sunbeams reflected from her shining pail. They never spoke of her. They

were just glad to see her, without understanding why.

She was a tall, strapping girl, freckled and tanned by the open air - a girl typical of the

Parisian suburbs.

Once, on noticing that they were always sitting in the same place, she said to them:

"Do you always come here?"

Luc Le Ganidec, more daring than his friend, stammered:

"Yes, we come here for our rest."

That was all. But the following Sunday, on seeing them, she smiled with the kindly

smile of a woman who understood their shyness, and she asked:

"What are you doing here? Are you watching the grass grow?"

Luc, cheered up, smiled: "P'raps."

She continued: "It's not growing fast, is it?"

He answered, still laughing: "Not exactly."

She went on. But when she came back with her pail full of milk, she stopped before

them and said:

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"Want some? It will remind you of home."

She had, perhaps instinctively, guessed and touched the right spot.

Both were moved. Then not without difficulty, she poured some milk into the bottle

in which they had brought their wine. Luc started to drink, carefully watching lest he

should take more than his share. Then he passed the bottle to Jean. She stood before

them, her hands on her hips, her pail at her feet, enjoying the pleasure that she was

giving them. Then she went on, saying: "Well, bye-bye until next Sunday!"

For a long time, they watched her tall form as it receded in the distance, blending with

the background, and finally disappeared.

The following week as they left the barracks, Jean said to Luc:

"Don't you think we ought to buy her something good?"

They were sorely perplexed by the problem of choosing something to bring to the

dairy maid. Luc was in favour of bringing her some chitterlings; but Jean, who had a

sweet tooth, thought that candy would be the best thing. He won, and so they went to

a grocery to buy two sous' worth, of red and white candies.

This time they ate more quickly than usual, excited by anticipation.

Jean was the first one to notice her. "There she is," he said; and Luc answered: "Yes,

there she is."

She smiled when she saw them, and cried:

"Well, how are you today?"

They both answered together:

"All right! How's everything with you?"

Then she started to talk of simple things which might interest them; of the weather, of

the crops, of her masters.

They didn't dare to offer their candies, which were slowly melting in Jean's pocket.

Finally, Luc, growing bolder, murmured:

"We have brought you something."

She asked: "Let's see it."

Then Jean, blushing to the tips of his ears, reached in his pocket, and drawing out the

little paper bag, handed it to her.

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She began to eat the little sweet dainties. The two soldiers sat in front of her, moved

and delighted.

At last she went to do her milking, and when she came back she again gave them some

milk.

They thought of her all through the week and often spoke of her: The following Sunday

she sat beside them for a longer time.

The three of them sat there, side by side, their eyes looking far away in the distance,

their hands clasped over their knees, and they told each other little incidents and little

details of the villages where they were born, while the cow, waiting to be milked,

stretched her heavy head toward the girl and mooed.

Soon the girl consented to eat with them and to take a sip of wine. Often she

brought them plums pocket for plums were now ripe. Her presence enlivened the

little Breton soldiers, who chattered away like two birds.

One Tuesday something unusual happened to Luc Le Ganidec; he asked for leave and

did not return until ten o'clock at night.

Jean, worried and racked his brain to account for his friend's having obtained leave.

The following Friday, Luc borrowed ten cents from one of his friends, and once more

asked and obtained leave for several hours.

When he started out with Jean on Sunday he seemed queer, disturbed, changed.

Kerderen did not understand; he vaguely suspected something, but he could not guess

what it might be.

They went straight to the usual place, and lunched slowly. Neither was hungry.

Soon the girl appeared. They watched her approach as they always did. When she was

near, Luc arose and went towards her. She placed her pail on the ground and kissed

him. She kissed him passionately, throwing her arms around his neck, without paying

attention to Jean, without even noticing that he was there.

Poor Jean was dazed, so dazed that he could not understand. His mind was upset and

his heart broken, without his even realizing why.

Then the girl sat down beside Luc, and they started to chat.

Jean was not looking at them. He understood now why his friend had gone out twice

during the week. He felt the pain and the sting which treachery and deceit leave in their

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wake.

Luc and the girl went together to attend to the cow.

Jean followed them with his eyes. He saw them disappear side by side, the red trousers

of his friend making a scarlet spot against the white road. It was Luc who sank the

stake to which the cow was tethered. The girl stooped down to milk the cow, while he

absent-mindedly stroked the animal's glossy neck. Then they left the pail in the grass

and disappeared in the woods.

Jean could no longer see anything but the wall of leaves through which they had

passed. He was unmanned so that he did not have strength to stand. He stayed there,

motionless, bewildered and grieving-simple, passionate grief. He wanted to weep, to

run away, to hide somewhere, never to see anyone again.

Then he saw them coming back again. They were walking slowly, hand in hand, as

village lovers do. Luc was carrying the pail.

After kissing him again, the girl went on, nodding carelessly to Jean. She did not offer

him any milk that day.

The two little soldiers sat side by side, motionless as always, silent and quiet, their

calm faces in no way betraying the trouble in their hearts. The sun shone down on

them. From time to time they could hear the plaintive lowing of the cow. At the usual

time they arose to return.

Luc was whittling a stick. Jean carried the empty bottle. He left it at the wine merchant's

in Bezons. Then they stopped on the bridge, as they did every Sunday, and watched the

water flowing by.

Jean leaned over the railing, farther and farther, as though he had seen something in the

stream which hypnotized him. Luc said to him:

"What's the matter? Do you want a drink?"

He had hardly said the last word when Jean's head carried away the rest of his body,

and the little blue and red soldier fell like a shot and disappeared in the water.

Luc, paralyzed with horror, tried vainly to shout for help. In the distance he saw

something move; then his friend's head bobbed up out of the water only to disappear

again.

Farther down he again noticed a hand, just one hand, which appeared and again went

out of sight. That was all.

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The boatmen who had rushed to the scene found the body that day.

Luc ran back to the barracks, crazed, and with eyes and voice full of tears, he related

the accident: "He leaned--he--he was leaning--so far over--that his head carried him

away--and--he--fell--he fell----"

Emotion choked him so that he could say no more. If he had only known.

Glossary

gait (n.): a manner of walking or moving on foot

slacken (v.): to reduce or decrease in speed

whittle (v.): to cut, trim, or shape (a stick, piece of wood, etc.) by carving off bits with

a knife

allude (v.): to mention it in an indirect way

nook (n.): a small sheltered place or recess

instinctively (adv.): without conscious thought

recede (v.): to go or move further away into the distance, or to become less clear

perplexed (adj.): completely baffled; very puzzled

enliven (v.): to make more entertaining, interesting, or cheerful

Understanding the text

Answer these questions.

a. Why do the two soldiers spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks

out in the countryside?

They spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks

out in the countryside because that is a spot that reminds them of home, and they don't not feel happy anywhere else.

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b. Why does the girl become the topic of conversation for these soldiers?

The girl becomes the topic of conversation for these soldiers because both of them meet her often and  fall in love with her.

c. Why does deception enter into their friendship?

Deception enter into their friendship becauseLuc starts affair with dairy maid without Jean know about it.

d. Do you think that Luc is a betrayer of friendship?

Yes, I think he is a betrayer of friendship  because he doesn't share about the affair with the girl and he also meets that girl without letting him know. I think in a true friendship, one has to share special events and endeveours but he doesn't share with Jean who is a only friend of him in a foreign place. 

e. What is the cause of suicide of Jean? Do you think that it was the only release of

his love?

The cause of suicide of Jean is Luc. He didn't share his affair with him which means she lost a friend and also he lost love of his life. No suicide was not the only release of his love. He should have frankly talked to his friend and the girl.

Reference to the context

a. What is the central theme of the story?

The theme of the story is friendship and ,love.

b. "What are you doing here? Are you watching the grass grow?"

i. Who is the speaker?

The diary maid is the speaker.

ii. What does the word “here” indicate?

Here means little nook where two soldiers meet in their free time.

iii. Who does “you” refer to?

You refers to two little soldiers

c. "He leaned--he--he was leaning--so far over--that his head carried him away--

and--he--fell--he fell----"

i. Who is the speaker?

Luc is the speaker.

ii. Why is the speaker speaking with interruption?

The speaker is emotional as his friend has died that is why he is speaking with interruption.

iii. What does he mean when he says “he--fell--he fell---”?

He means Jean fell and slowly disappeared in the water.

d. Two Little Soldiers can be viewed as a series of dramatic scenes. Describe the story as tragedy.

Luc and Jean are two soldiers who habitually spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks, in the countryside. They happen to see a young village girl who brings her cow to pasture and milks it every week at the same time. They are very close to each other. Every weekend, they spend time together. It becomes clear that Jean feels the same about the girl as Luc does. Luc prioritizes romantic possibilities over a close friendship. This causes Jean to make the drastic choice to end his own life. His decision to kill himself is a logical consequence of his realization that he will have neither friend nor lover. This tragedy depends on Luc's character flaw.

e. What is the setting and style of the story?

Two Little Soldiers is set in the French countryside. The scene is peaceful. Luc and Jean, who are soldiers stationed in barracks nearby, are present there on Sundays with meal and to enjoy the area, which reminds them of their home. Maupassant is careful not to show too much of barrack life. The beauty of the setting is enhanced by the presence of a dairy maid.

The most significant technique that Maupassant uses in the story is his manipulation of the point of view. Though the events of the story appear to be continuous, the point of view shifts as scenes change. Maupassant adopts the voice of an omniscient narrator. He tells the reader what both soldiers think and do, giving each equal attention, and provides simple and straightforward information about what the young girl feels or thinks in the first encounter. He relies on the viewpoint of one character, Jean when Luc decides to go on leave, and the two soldiers travel to the countryside for the last time. When the two soldiers return to the barracks, the scene is viewed through Luc’s eyes. The reader is denied knowledge of Jean’s feelings, and hence is given no explanation of his motivation for killing himself.

f. How would you describe the conflict between the friends?

In the story the conflict arises when the girl kisses Luc passionately, without paying attention to Jean, without even noticing that he is there. Jean is upset and heartbroken. At this point, Jean discovers the reason why Luc seeks leave and borrows money from Jean but offers no explanation for his behavior. Luc and the girl go to attend to the cow and disappear into the woods for a long time. When they return, the lovers kiss again, and the girl doesn’t offer him any milk that day. Eventually, the conflict between friendship and love leads to death of Jean. Luc remains in anguish as his good friend dies.