Intro: I’ve been working on a series of conversations between two fictional characters named Joyous Cries and Sirius Mourning, using ChatGPT as an aide. Joyous sees the light in everything, and Sirius is a bit of a somber depressive. In this passage, Joyous is on his deathbed, and it’s the final conversation between Joyous and Sirius.
Scene: Joyous Cries lies weak and frail, nearing the end of their life. Sirius Mourning sits by their side, grief etched on their face. The room is filled with a serene atmosphere, permeated by the essence of love and acceptance. Sirius Mourning: (voice trembling) Joyous, my dear friend, it’s difficult to accept that your time with us is drawing to a close. You’ve brought so much light and joy into the world.
Joyous Cries: (smiling weakly) Sirius, my dear companion, do not mourn for me. My time on this Earth has been a gift, filled with countless moments of love and connection. It is in accepting the natural cycle of life that we find peace. Sirius Mourning: (teary-eyed) But your presence, your unwavering optimism, has been a beacon of hope for so many. How will we carry on without you? Joyous Cries: (gently taking Sirius Mourning’s hand) My dear friend, remember that the light and love I’ve shared with you and others will continue to ripple through their lives. The impact of a single life lived with love extends far beyond its physical presence.
Sirius Mourning: (voice choked with emotion) Your words bring some comfort, but the pain of losing you feels unbearable. How can I find solace in a world that feels so much darker without your radiant spirit?
Joyous Cries: (speaking softly) Sirius, my dear friend, remember that darkness cannot exist without light. As you carry the memories of our time together, I ask you to find solace in the love we shared, the joy we experienced, and the lessons we learned from one another.
Sirius Mourning: (voice breaking) It’s hard to imagine a life without your guidance and unwavering belief in the power of love. How will I find strength when darkness overwhelms me?
Joyous Cries: (pausing, mustering their strength) Sirius, my dear friend, remember that the strength you seek lies within you. I have witnessed your capacity for empathy and compassion. Embrace the memories we shared, and let them guide you through the darkest of times.
Sirius Mourning: (leaning closer, tears streaming down their face) I will do my best, Joyous. Your spirit will live on through the love and compassion I carry in my heart. But know that the pain of losing you will be deeply felt.
Joyous Cries: (whispering, with love) I understand, dear Sirius. Grief is a testament to the love we shared. Allow yourself to mourn, to feel the depths of sorrow, for it is in surrendering to those emotions that healing begins.
Sirius Mourning: (voice trembling) Thank you, Joyous, for your wisdom and comfort. As I say goodbye, know that your presence will forever be cherished and remembered.
Joyous Cries: (whispering softly) You are welcome, dear Sirius. Find solace in the memories we created together, and know that love transcends time and space. I am grateful for our journey and the bond we shared.
Their hands remain clasped, as Joyous Cries’s breathing gradually becomes more shallow. The room is filled with a sense of peace and acceptance as Joyous takes their final breath, surrounded by the love and gratitude of Sirius Mourning.
That’s very interesting. It’s fluent, of course, but very trite. Things like “remember that darkness cannot exist without light” and “My time on this Earth has been a gift, filled with countless moments of love and connection.” sound like they could come from greeting cards. Have you tried getting GPT to use figures of speech, and poetic effects like alliteration, repetition, and assonance? It might be a good first step towards generating something really insightful.
You raise a good point, but could you offer a more nuanced or enlightened perspective than the AI?
(edit: oops this was supposed to be a reply to @TrismegistusMx’s comment below)
@TrismegistusMx no I don’t know much about ChatGPT. But this did inspire me to find a GPT and start playing with it. After looking around a bit I chose the Bing GPT4. (Not sure if I’d recommend this, since you have to install MS Edge, which is basicaly spyware. I’ve been using it in an unregistered Windows virtual machine on my Linux system.)
Anyway, after a bit of testing, I used the prompt “Write a dialogue between two people, one of whom is watching the other person die, using alliteration, assonance, and using one extended metaphor, without using cliches or trite language.” One of the least worst is:
Orion: It’s time, Celeste. Time to let the curtain fall. You’re my show, my act, my scene.
Celeste: Orion, I know. I’m ready to go. I can feel the applause fading me, the lights dimming away.
Orion: Yes, Celeste, yes. You’ve done well. You’ve stayed with me. We’ve had so much to perform for, so much to entertain and amaze. Remember our scripts, our costumes, our props?
Celeste: I remember, Orion. I remember everything. You’re the only thing that matters to me. You’re the stage that supports me, the director that guides me, the audience that cheers me.
Orion: And I’ll miss you, Celeste. I’ll miss you in this show without you. You’re my star, Celeste. But you’ve earned your bow.
Celeste: Orion, you’re not alone. You’ll never be alone. I’ll always be with you, in your heart, in your mind, in your soul. You’re my star too, Orion. And even when I’m gone, I’ll still be there, performing for you, guiding for you, cheering for you.
Orion: Celeste…Celeste…thank you…scene…
Celeste: Orion…Orion…thank you…goodbye…
An earlier version is the following:
Alice: Don’t leave me, Ben. Don’t let the darkness take you away. You’re my light, my love, my life.
Ben: Alice, I’m sorry. I’m fading fast. I can feel the cold creeping in, the shadows swallowing me whole.
Alice: No, Ben, no. You can fight it. You can stay with me. We have so much to live for, so much to see and do. Remember our dreams, our plans, our promises?
Ben: I remember, Alice. I remember everything. You’re the only thing that matters to me. You’re the sun that brightens my days, the moon that guides my nights, the star that fills my sky.
Alice: Then don’t go, Ben. Don’t go where I can’t follow. Don’t leave me alone in this world without you. You’re my sky, Ben. Without you, I’ll be lost in the dark.
Ben: Alice, you’re not alone. You’ll never be alone. I’ll always be with you, in your heart, in your mind, in your soul. You’re my sky too, Alice. And even when I’m gone, I’ll still be there, shining for you, watching over you, loving you.
Alice: Ben…Ben…please…don’t…go…
Ben: Alice…Alice…I love you…goodbye…
After that one, I explicitly asked the system “Do you know what a cliche is” and “Do you know what trite language is?” and each time it gave a definition. Then I told it not to use “love” or “friendship” and to use polysyllabic names. Then I had it regenerate until I found a metaphor that wasn’t too bad. (there were some funny metaphors, like: “It’s time, Felix. Time to let the cake cool. You’re my recipe, my ingredient, my slice.”) At some point it stopped using polysyllabic names though.
These GPT models are pretty impressive, but there’s still something I wish was there, maybe I’m just not prompting right. I think you’re on the right track by having two different perspectives that are being discussed.
"It’s time, Felix. Time to let the cake cool. You’re my recipe, my ingredient, my slice.”
Poetry
