The View of War between William Faulkner’s “Two Soldiers” and E.E. Cummings’ “my sweet old etcetera”
William Faulkner’s “Two Soldiers” and E.E. Cummings’ “my sweet old etcetera” are both written about the emotions involved during a war. “Two Soldiers” is about a person watching their loved one going to war and ‘my sweet old etcetera” is about a person who is on the front lines. While each story is a reflection on war, Faulkner’s is about the despair you feel in the trenches and Cummings is about the despair you feel while you watch someone go to the trenches.

William Faulkner’s story “Two Soldiers” is a heart wrenching one about a little boy age eight watching his brother, Pete, go off to war for the first time. The story is told from the little brother’s point of view and we never learn of his name. The brothers are from a small town in Mississippi when they first hear on the radio about the bombings in Pearl Harbor. You can tell in the story that the mood of Pete changes with each radio broadcast. The little brother gets more and more concerned with what is bothering Pete. Pete does not want to talk about it. Pete tells his little brother that he has to go help out with the war. The little brother decides that he will go with him. Pete tries to explain to the little brother that he is too small to go to war. The little brother replies with, “I’ll chop the wood and tote the water for you-all then!” (289). He doesn’t quite understand why he cannot go with Pete. Pete’s mother is heartbroken and doesn’t want him to leave but understands that if he has to go then he has to go. Pete’s father believes that what he and Pete’s uncle have already done for the country in war should be enough and Pete doesn’t have to go. Pete explains that it is his duty to go.
Pete leaves for Memphis and the little brother sneaks out to go and find his brother. Along the journey he comes across many bumps in the road, but finally finds Pete. Pete once again has to explain to him that he cannot go with him. The little brother is heartbroken. He loves his brother and wants to be with him to help him and protect him. “I got to go too, I got to. It hurts my heart, Pete.” (296). The little brother cannot fathom being without his big brother. But he agrees to go back home. Pete actually kisses the little brother good bye which shocks the little brother. The little brother in a sense is showing soldier qualities. He shows courage, determination and willingness to complete the mission in front of him by finding Pete in Memphis. But the wrenching feeling of separation from Pete will be difficult, “I set there by that soldier, crying.” (298).
E.E. Cummings’ story “my sweet old etcetera” is one told by a soldier currently serving in war. This is a firsthand account of a soldier and the effects the war has on him and his loved ones back home. I believe that the narrator is dreaming about what happened prior to him being in this place. He remembers his Aunt Lucy warning about the war and that it wasn’t going to be as glorious as one might expect. People don’t really know what the war will be like until they are actually there. He is reminded of his sister making many items to keep the soldiers warm. He also thinks back to his mom hoping that if he dies at least it will be because he was brave. Cummings adds many etceteras within the poem just to use as filler or to me a way of saying, blah, blah, blah. Like it really didn’t matter at his point. He was facing war and everything that everyone said back home didn’t matter now. Cummings did not use the word etcetera when thinking back to what the father had to say, “My father used to become hoarse talking about how it was a privilege and if only he could.” (244). By not using the word etcetera mean that the narrator actually listened to the father? He also capitalized the word etcetera in the last line while talking about his sweetheart back home. “Your smile eyes knees and of your Etcetera.” (244). That puts some symbolism of what she means to him. He is alone in the muddy trenches dreaming about all the people back home. He is lonely, he is afraid, he wants to go home.
Both “Two Soldiers” and “my sweet old etcetera” tell a tale of war in its most sacred parts. One from a person who idolizes his older brother and wants to be there to protect him and one from an actual soldier in the war. Each one is heart wrenching and poignant. Just showing that no matter what side of the war you are on, someone is hurting.

Works Cited
Cummings, E.E. “my sweet old etcetera.” Select Writers of the Twentieth Century. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2005.

Faulkner, William. “Two Soldiers.” Select Writers of the Twentieth Century. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2005.