Unit 1 Short Stories: Two Little Soldiers
By Guy de Maupassant
Summary
The story is about two friends who fall in love with the same girl. Luc and Jean are soldiers living in the barracks. When they are free from duty on Sundays, they spend time in a forest under the trees. There is a spot which reminds them of home and their area, so they love to go there. They talk, eat, drink and enjoy there. Every time they meet a young village girl going to milk her cow. After some talks, both begin to love her. Jean is shy. But Luc wins her love with secret meetings. Jealousy and Luc’s deception break his heart. Finally, he kills himself by jumping into the river.
Theme
The story touches on the universal issue of love and betrayal. We see the negative effect of triangular love. There is jealousy and also cheating. Weak-minded lovers like Jean may feel heartbroken and see suicide as the only way out.
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?
Ans: The two soldiers spend their free time on Sundays away from the barracks out in the countryside because they had found a spot which reminded them of home, and they did not feel happy anywhere else.
b. Why does the girl become the topic of conversation for these soldiers?
c. Why does deception enter into their friendship?
Ans:The competition to win love brings deception in friendship. Luc and Jean love the same girl. But Luc is clever to make a plan. He meets her privately behind his friend’s back. Jean feels his friend has cheated him.
d. Do you think that Luc is a betrayer of friendship?
Ans:Luc seems to be a betrayer because he cheats and hurts his friend. He is not fair as he makes a secret plan. He should have openly discussed his feelings with Jean. And they might have reached a solution about what to do next.
e. What is the cause of suicide of Jean? Do you think that it was the only release of his love?
Ans: Losing in love and betrayal by the friend cause Jean’s suicide. Here we see the negative effect of a love triangle. Luc’s cheating hurts Jean. He seems weak-minded and feels heartbroken. He sees suicide as the only way out.
Reference to the context
a. What is the central theme of the story?
Ans:The story touches on the universal issue of love and betrayal. We see the negative effect of triangular love. There is jealousy and also cheating. Weak-minded lovers like Jean may feel heartbroken and see suicide as the only way out.
d. Two Little Soldiers can be viewed as a series of dramatic scenes. Describe the story as tragedy.
Ans: Yes, Two Little Soldiers can be viewed as a series of dramatic scenes. The point of view moves as scenes changes. The story touches on the universal issue of love, betrayal and tragedy. We see the negative effect of triangular love which leads to tragic ending of the central character, Jean. There is jealousy and also cheating. Weak-minded lovers like Jean may feel heartbroken and see suicide as the only way out. Losing in love and betrayal by the friend cause Jean’s suicide. Here we see the negative effect of a love triangle. Luc’s cheating hurts Jean. He seems weak-minded and feels heartbroken. He sees suicide as the only way out. Luc and Jean love the same girl. But Luc is clever to make a plan. He meets her privately behind his friend’s back. Jean feels his friend has cheated him and he commits suicide. In this way, the story ends tragically. So, the story can be viewed as tragedy because it has unhappy ending.
e. What is the setting and style of the story?
Ans: “Two Little Soldiers” uses pastoral setting to make the story more effective. Maupassant knowingly uses pastoral surroundings to capture the serenity and present the theme of promise happiness. The majority of the action of this story takes place in pastoral surroundings. He doesn’t present any details about barracks life because his focus is on rural life and its reality. The writer wants to surprise us by contrasting pastoral setting with the harsh realities of the world.
We find use of different dramatic scenes in this story. The point of view moves as scenes changes .At the beginning of the story, the writer uses an omniscient point of view. In it, the writer has access to thoughts and experiences of his characters but at last, the point of view shifts to limited third person point of view. The narrator knows everything about both soldiers. We know their thinkings from the narrative. At last, the narrative shifts from an omniscient point of view to limited one. The narrator doesn’t present any feelings of Luc when he goes on leave. In the same way, at the end of the story, we doesn’t know the cause of Jean’s suicide. In this way, the writer has used both third person an omniscient point of view and third person limited point of view.
f. How would you describe the conflict between the friends?
Ans: The conflict between Luc and Jean is caused by triangular love. While passing their days off, they come into contact with a village girl. Both like her and fall in love. But only can win her, so the boys are in competition.
The conflict has a tragic ending. Conflicts often end with one side losing. Luc and Jean are close friends and they should have openly discussed the matter. But jealousy and deception enter their friendship. Jean loses as Luc wins the girl with secret meetings. Cheated, hurt and heartbroken, he kills himself.
Reference beyond the text
a. Is it good to have conflict between friendship and love? Is it morally good that a person and his best friend can love the same person?
Ans: No, it is not good to have conflict between friendship and love. It is also morally not good that a person and his best friend can love the same person. It is a complex relationship when two persons love the same person. It may damage anyone’s life like in the story. Love as well friendship are pure and eternal so we must make it more easy and flexible in both. Triangular love leads to more complicated psychological issues. So, it is the best to avoid conflict between friendship and love by doing mutual understanding unlike the story. A love triangle is difficult. It is necessary to be open and honest in love and friendship to avoid further miseries.
b. How would you describe the triangular love?
Ans: The story moves around the triangular love of Luc, Jean and the girl. While passing their days off, they come into contact with a village girl. Both like the same girl and fall in love. But only one can win her, so the boys are in competition. The conflict brings a tragic ending. Conflicts often end with one side losing. Luc and Jean are close friends and they should have openly discussed the matter. But jealousy and deception enter their friendship. Jean loses as Luc wins the girl with secret meetings. Cheated, hurt and heartbroken, he kills himself.
