1. Two Little Soldiers
Summary by Guy de Maupassant
This short story “Two Little Soldiers” is a triangular love story which has been
written by a French writer Guy de Maupassant. The story is about a bizarre
triangular love which has a completely unexpected result at the end. This story
shows the compatibility of friendship and romantic love with change, discontent,
conflict, betrayal and jealousy. This story has presented the setting of Courbevoie,
a town on the outskirts of Paris in the Fench countryside. The main characters here
in this story are two French soldiers named Luc Le Ganidec and Jean Kerderen.
Main Plot
Characters’ Weekend
Both soldiers, Luc Le Ganidec and Jean Kerderen were quite good friends of each
other. Among them, Jean Kerderen was a bit quiet and shy whereas Luc Le
Ganidec was carefree and open-minded. Every Sunday, both of them spent their
holiday away from their barracks out in the countryside. They enjoyed their
holidays in a little wood which was located at the end part of Bezons. During their
journey towards Bezons, they used to walk so fast without chatting.
2. They would stop for several minutes at Bezons’s bridge to enjoy the river Seine
and its white surging sails. They would bend over the railing of the bridge to enjoy
the scene of the river. This particular river reminded them of their homes. They
would buy their essential provisions like bread, wine etc from stores after moving
across the bridge. Finally, after crossing the village, they would reach a little forest,
the area which reminded them of their homeland Plounivon. Both of them would
enjoy a lot in that peaceful environment quite away from the noise of the town.
Entry Of A Young Milkmaid:
One day, both soldiers met a young milkmaid who was taking her cow to the
pastor to milk. Next Sunday, the milkmaid talked to them while moving towards
the pastor along with her cow. When she returned, she shared her coeds milk to
them. They talked again about various things. She promised to meet both of them
the following Sunday.
The next weekend, Jean Kerderen suggested Luc Le Ganidec that they should
provide present to the. milkmaid. Both of them decided and bought bonbon for her.
When they met her the next Sunday, they became quite shy to tell her about the
present.
3. Finally, Luc Le Ganidec revealed her about the present and Jean Kerderen
provided her bonbon. She became quite happy to receive candy from the soldiers.
As weeks passed by, the milkmaid became the topic of conversation for both
soldiers in the barracks. Every time, they used to talk about her. After more
meetings, these three people became quite good friends of each other. The
milkmaid also started providing them with breakfast items in their meetings.
Deceitful Move By Luc Le Ganidec:
Luc Le Ganidec started leaving the barracks time and again. He left the barracks on
Tuesday and appeared back quite late. He left the barracks again on Friday. He
borrowed money from Jean Kerderen but offered him no explanations related to
his leave. He kept on leaving the barracks for several hours in a day time and
returned barracks during the night. Jean didn’t know about Luc’s activities outside
the barracks.
Jean Kerderen’s Jealousy & Heartbroken State:
Next Sunday, when the girl appeared with her cow, she became quite happy to see
Luc Le Ganidec. She rushed up to Luc Le Ganidec. She embraced and kissed Luc
Le Ganidec. She didn’t pay attention to Jean Kerderen. Both Luc Le Ganidec and
milkmaid disappeared in the wood for a long time. Sitting alone, Jean Kerderen
4. became quite desperate. He couldn’t understand anything about their acts. He felt
his heartbroken. He realized his liking
towards the girl. He even realized the fact behind Luc’s acts of leaving barracks for
several hours. He felt himself fool. When they returned, both lovers kissed again.
The milkmaid didn’t even provide milk to Jean that day.
Bad Luck Of Jean Kerderen:
While returning to barracks, Jean was feeling quite upset. When they stopped just
over the bridge, Jean Kerderen leaned much over the bridge’s railing being so sad.
He couldn’t balance his body over the railing in desperation. He fell into the river
all of a sudden. Luc Le Ganidec shouted for help being panic but no one was there.
He only saw Jean’s head for the last time. After that, Jean’s body disappeared into
the water. Later on, his dead body was found by boatmen that day. Being so
nervous and sad, Luc Le Ganidec informed about Jean’s accident in his barracks.
