Two Little Soldiers

Luc and Jean are two soldiers who usually spend their Sundays away from the barracks, in the countryside. Their day off has become a habit. Every Sunday, they carry breakfast to the same spot in the woods and relax to enjoy the food, wine, and scenery of a place that reminds them of home.

Eventually, their practice includes a bit of innocent ogling at a young village girl who takes her cow out to graze every week at about the same time. One Sunday, however, the girl speaks to them on her way to the pasture, and when she returns, she shares the cow's milk with them and leaves them with a promise to meet the next Sunday.

The following weekend, Jean proposes that they bring something for her. They decide on sweets as a suitable gift, but when the girl arrives, they are too embarrassed to inform her that they have brought something. Finally, Luc informs the girl about the treat, and Jean, who always carries the provisions, hands her the bonbons.

As the weeks pass, the girl becomes a topic of conversation for these men while they spend time at the barracks, and the three become close friends. The girl begins to share their Sunday brunch and appears to provide equal attention to both recruits.

Then, in an unexpected move, Luc requests leave on a Tuesday and again the following Thursday. He borrows money from Jean that day but does not explain his actions. Jean lends the money.

The following Sunday, when the girl arrives with the cow, she runs up to Luc and they embrace passionately. Jean is hurt because he feels excluded, and he doesn't understand why the girl has suddenly focused all of her attention on Luc. Luc and the girl go to care for the cow, disappearing into the woods for an extended period. Jean is stunned. When they return, the couple kiss again, and the girl wishes Jean a pleasant "Good evening" before departing.

Neither soldier mentions the occurrence, but when they return to their quarters, they pause briefly on the bridge above the Seine. Jean bends over toward the river, a little too far, according to Luc, and then falls into the torrent. Luc can do nothing but watch in agony as his good friend drowns.

Some Important Questions

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

Ans: In a literary tragedy, a protagonist is usually led to ruin due to a character's fault. This weakness, which is typically a common human flaw such as greed or mistaken loyalty, causes the character to degrade and eventually leads to his demise.

Despite being far from home, two friends, Jean and Luc, begin the story in a pastoral and reasonably lovely environment in "Two Little Soldiers". They enjoy their time together, eating a basic meal and drinking some wine before returning to their responsibilities.

The entrance of a third party—a girl—ends up destroying this sense of community. Suddenly, the two buddies are equally attracted to this girl, and they begin to talk about her all week. Neither soldier appears to be willing to make a move for the girl's affections at first, but then Luc abruptly alters everything by leaving without telling Jean where he is heading.

When the three meet again, things have changed. Jean and Luc are no longer the group's core couple; instead, Luc and the girl have grown closer during his evenings off. They sneak out together, leaving Jean entirely solitary.

Luc was Jean's primary point of contact in a world of imprisonment and loneliness. Jean is perplexed and depressed when he realizes he has lost this connection. He commits suicide by purposely falling into the river as a result of his newfound alienation from humanity.

When Luc returns to the barracks, he is heartbroken by his friend's death and can barely speak. Thus, the tragedy is based on Luc's character flaw: he values love potential over intimate friendship. This finally leads to the devastating loss of the friendship he had loved so much and relied on to get him through the loneliness of being so far away.

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

Ans: In the story, the conflict comes when the female passionately kisses Luc while ignoring Jean. Jean is upset and heartbroken over this. Jean understands why Luc seeks leave and borrows money from Jean, but he does not justify his actions. Luc and the girl go to tend to the cow and then disappear into the woods for an extended period. When they return, the lovers kiss again, but the girl does not offer him any milk that day. Eventually, the conflict between friendship and love leads to Jean's death.

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

Ans: The story takes place in the French countryside, near the town of Courbevoie. It is wartime, yet the situation is tranquil and picturesque; Luc and Jean, soldiers stationed in adjacent barracks, come here on Sundays for a quiet supper and to enjoy the surroundings, which remind them of home. The presence of a young village girl, who brings her cow out to pasture every Sunday while the lads are present, adds to the beauty of the situation. The males proceed to engage in "a bit of innocent ogling" of the attractive girl, who eventually begins to speak to them.