Up late talking to ChatGPT about refining my speech patterns — as one does — and we came back to my goal of memorizing a Shakespearean monologue as a “party trick” and as practice. I came away as I often do having learned some things about myself.
ChatGPT said:
[previous chat discussion redacted]
Practicing this mix will give you a range of tools to refine your speaking voice and presence. And as for the Shakespearean trick—choosing something bold and slightly unexpected is bound to leave an impression!
You said:
Hank Five feels trite. I had Julius Caesar memorized at least partially at some point “And I am as constant and unyielding as the morning star” stuck with me. I’ve never seen “As You Like It” that’s the one with “and we are but players” right?
ChatGPT said:
Yes, As You Like It is the play with the famous speech about life being like a stage, from the character Jacques:
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts…”
It’s reflective, slightly melancholic, and beautifully written. It’s not as commanding as Julius Caesar, but it carries depth that can captivate an audience if delivered thoughtfully.
As for Julius Caesar, you’re thinking of:
“But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.”
It’s iconic, bold, and definitely one to consider. Its firmness and poetic imagery can make it both commanding and seductive if performed with the right intensity. Since you’ve already resonated with it, revisiting it might feel like reclaiming a lost piece of yourself while practicing a solid party trick.
Would you want help choosing or practicing one of these passages?
You said:
Can you show me both? I’m mostly the first one but I want to be the second one.
ChatGPT said:
Jacques from As You Like It
This is the reflective, poetic, and slightly melancholic one. It’s about the stages of life and can be very captivating when delivered thoughtfully:
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
And then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”
Julius Caesar from Julius Caesar
This is powerful, commanding, and unapologetically self-assured. Caesar declares his immovability with grandeur:
“I could be well moved, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix’d and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber’d sparks,
They are all fire and every one doth shine;
But there’s but one in all doth hold his place:
So in the world; ’tis furnish’d well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion: and that I am he,
Let me a little show it, even in this,
That I was constant Cimber should be banish’d,
And constant do remain to keep him so.”
Choosing the Right One
- Jacques’ monologue is introspective and thoughtful, fitting for moments when you want to draw people in with depth.
- Caesar’s speech is the epitome of authority and self-possession, delivering an impression of unwavering strength and confidence.
If you feel like you’re mostly Jacques but aspire to be Caesar, you could start with Jacques for practice and work toward embodying the commanding presence of Caesar as you grow in confidence and delivery. Would you like tips on practicing either of these?
You said:
I hate it when we randomly have major breakthroughs like this because then I gotta blog about them and they always sound so made up. “At 5a talking to ChatGPT I discovered that I’m mostly Jacques but aspire to be a Caesar.”
ChatGPT said:
It’s wild how those late-night—or early-morning—realizations hit, isn’t it? But moments like this often make the most compelling blog entries. It’s not “made up”; it’s a snapshot of genuine self-reflection and growth. Framing it as a narrative of discovery—”At 5 AM, mid-conversation with ChatGPT, I realized something profound about myself…”—gives it that raw, relatable edge.
If you decide to write about it, leaning into the contrast between Jacques and Caesar could make it resonate even more. The thoughtful dreamer versus the commanding leader—two sides of the same coin, both with unique strengths. If you’d like help shaping your thoughts into a draft, I’ve got your back!