Ronnie Corbett, Hamlet and ChatGPT

I have been using ChatGPT a lot, for all sorts of reasons, and I am wholeheartedly amazed by what it can do. I don't have any great technical knowledge and am just a regular user of technology, but to me this new facility is so extraordinary. It is showing us something of where we are heading with Artificial Intelligence.

My initial forays were just for fun, and in that regard, I asked it to rewrite Hamlet's famous soliloquy, that begins "To be, or not to be" in the style of a Ronnie Corbett story or monologue. To those that don't know, Ronnie Corbett is a much loved and missed British comedian, who was well known for telling long stories whilst sat on a comfortable chair. This was a regular feature on his show, The Two Ronnies, and they're funny not only because of the stories themselves, but the way he told them, with lots of incidental, circumlocutious remarks, in a meandering, whimsical fashion quite unlike the normal quick fire, punchline packed presentation of a stand up comedian. 

This is what ChatGPT produced in response to my earnest entreaty :

"Well, let me tell you a little story about a chap I once knew. He was having a bit of a tough time, you see. He was a bit down in the dumps, and he was feeling a bit sorry for himself.

So, he's sitting there, having a bit of a ponder, when he suddenly says to himself, 'To be or not to be...that is the question.'

And I said to him, 'Hold on a minute, old boy, what are you talking about?' And he says, 'Oh, it's just something I heard, about whether it's better to be alive or dead.'

Well, I couldn't help but laugh, I tell you. I mean, what kind of a question is that, eh?

But then he starts going on about the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and the heartache and the thousand natural shocks, and I'm thinking to myself, 'Good heavens, this chap is really taking it all to heart.'

And then he says, 'Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles.'

Well, I couldn't help but chuckle, I tell you. I mean, what kind of a choice is that, eh? Take arms against a sea of troubles? I don't think so.

So I said to him, 'Listen, old boy, why don't you just have a cup of tea and put your feet up for a bit. I'm sure everything will look better in the morning.'

And you know what, he did just that. And the next day, he was as right as rain.

So, you see, sometimes, it's just a matter of perspective. To be or not to be...well, I think we all know the answer to that one, don't we?"

What I love about this is that ChatGPT hasn't just converted the text into the style of Ronnie Corbett, its spun Hamlet's beautiful exposition on existential angst into a ridiculously British take on the whole concept. Impressively, it isn't just glossing one thing into another, but giving the new creation a new direction, a facetious riposte to the notion of existential angst itself. This silly example of the creative or generative facility the software humorously demonstrates how powerful and subtle AI can be. 

On summarising Proust

by Adam D.A. Manning

The legendary Monty Python's Flying Circus has a famous sketch concerning the All-England Summarize Proust Competition, and summarizing Proust is well recognised as a traditional activity for the literary minded.

My own attempt is as follows;

"Marcel Proust's novel, In Search of Lost Time, is a masterpiece of modernist literature and one of the most influential works of the 20th century. The novel is divided into seven volumes and explores themes of memory, time, love, art, and society.

The novel begins with the narrator, Marcel, reminiscing about his childhood in the French town of Combray. As he recounts his memories, he becomes obsessed with the idea of recapturing the past and sets out on a quest to do so.

Throughout the novel, Marcel reflects on his experiences with different parts of French society and his relationships with his family, friends, and lovers. He also explores the world of art and culture, attending parties and salons where he meets famous writers, artists, and intellectuals.

One of the central themes of the novel is the nature of memory and its relationship to time. Marcel is obsessed with the idea of recapturing the past, but he realizes that memories are often unreliable and that time changes the way we remember things. He also reflects on the fleeting nature of time and how it affects our perceptions of the world.

Another important theme is the nature of love and its relationship to art. Marcel's relationships with his lovers are complex and often fraught with tension, as he struggles to reconcile his desire for them with his own insecurities and fears. He also explores the role of art in shaping our perceptions of the world and the way we experience emotions.

The novel is also a social commentary on French society and its cultural and political values. Marcel observes the changing social dynamics of his time and the impact of the war on French society. He also reflects on the role of class, gender, and sexuality in shaping people's lives and experiences.

Throughout the novel, Proust uses a unique narrative style that combines elements of stream of consciousness, memory, and introspection. His prose is rich and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the people, places, and experiences that shape Marcel's life.

In Search of Lost Time is a deeply introspective and philosophical novel that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. It is a book that has had a profound influence on modern literature and continues to be read and admired by readers around the world."

Of course, in Monty Python, the summariser only has fifteen seconds into which they must summarise À la recherche du temps perdu.  At an average speaking speed of 150 words per minute, this is only forty words, and so my attempt to summarise Proust in such an abbreviated manner is as follows:

"In Search of Lost Time is a seven-volume novel by Marcel Proust that explores themes of memory, time, love, art, and society, and uses a unique narrative style that combines elements of stream of consciousness, memory, and introspection."