DALL-E Hamlet

In Georgiana Houghton’s lexicon and colour scheme

John: Please prepare and submit a prompt to DALL-E to protrait an image of Hamlet that uses Georgiana Houghton’s colour scheme (provided here). The image should be in the style of abstract art and art during the Victorian era.

GPT4: The colors in the image are based on Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme, which she used to express her spiritual visions and messages. Each color has a specific meaning and association, according to her own lexicon.

I hope you like the image and the colors that I chose for you. 😊

John: But it has faces in it! Can you please do one with no faces?

GPT4: I’m sorry, I’m having trouble creating an image of Hamlet without any faces at all. I think it’s because Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme and a floral design framework are both very expressive and suggestive of human emotions and features. I try to do my best, but I can’t guarantee that the image will be completely faceless.

John: Please describe the attributes that Hamlet had that are portrayed in the image.

DALL-E Hamlet (prompted by JR and GPT4)

GPT4’s analysis of Hamlet’s character

GPT4: Hamlet was a complex and conflicted character, who struggled with his duty, his emotions, his morality, and his sanity. Here are some of the attributes that I tried to capture in the image.

Faith: Hamlet believed in the existence of the ghost of his father, who told him to avenge his murder. He also had faith in his own destiny and the will of God. I used gamboge to represent this attribute, as it is a warm golden yellow that symbolizes faith in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Probity: Hamlet valued honesty and integrity, and despised the corruption and deceit of his uncle Claudius, who killed his father and married his mother. He also tried to be truthful to himself and his conscience. I used Indian yellow to represent this attribute, as it is a deep rich yellow that symbolizes probity in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Delicacy of mind: Hamlet was a sensitive and thoughtful person, who often contemplated the meaning of life, death, and existence. He also had a poetic and artistic nature, as he was fond of plays and literature. I used yellow ochre to represent this attribute, as it is a dull earthy yellow that symbolizes delicacy of mind in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Earnestness: Hamlet was serious and sincere in his actions and words, and he did not take things lightly or frivolously. He also had a strong sense of duty and honor, and he was determined to fulfill his father’s request. I used light amber to represent this attribute, as it is a warm pale orange that symbolizes earnestness in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Energy: Hamlet had a lot of energy and passion, which he sometimes expressed in bursts of anger, violence, or madness. He also had a restless and adventurous spirit, as he traveled to different places and faced various dangers. I used king’s yellow to represent this attribute, as it is a bright historical yellow that symbolizes energy in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Thankfulness, Gratitude: Hamlet was grateful for the loyalty and friendship of Horatio, who stayed by his side until the end. He also appreciated the kindness and love of Ophelia, who he drove away with his madness. I used chrome no. 2 to represent this attribute, as it is a bright greenish-yellow that symbolizes thankfulness and gratitude in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Cheerfulness: Hamlet had a sense of humor and wit, which he often used to mock or insult others, or to disguise his true feelings. He also enjoyed jokes and puns, and he was fond of the comic relief of the gravediggers. I used lemon yellow to represent this attribute, as it is a bright pure yellow that symbolizes cheerfulness in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Courage: Hamlet was brave and fearless, and he did not hesitate to confront his enemies or face death. He also had the courage to question and challenge the norms and values of his society and his time. I used cadmium red to represent this attribute, as it is a bright red that symbolizes courage in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Considerateness: Hamlet was considerate and compassionate, and he cared for the welfare and happiness of others. He also respected the dignity and rights of the dead, and he gave them proper burial rites. I used raw sienna to represent this attribute, as it is a yellowish-brown that symbolizes considerateness in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Truth: Hamlet sought the truth and justice, and he did not accept the lies and injustice of his uncle Claudius. He also tried to reveal the truth to others, and he staged a play to expose the guilt of his uncle. I used cobalt blue to represent this attribute, as it is a deep blue that symbolizes truth in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Integrity: Hamlet had a strong moral sense and a clear vision of right and wrong. He also had a high regard for his own honor and reputation, and he did not compromise his principles or values. I used ultramarine to represent this attribute, as it is a vibrant blue with violet tint that symbolizes integrity in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Decisiveness: Hamlet was decisive and resolute, and he made up his mind to avenge his father’s death. He also acted swiftly and boldly, and he killed his uncle Claudius in the final scene. I used intense blue to represent this attribute, as it is a very strong deep blue that symbolizes decisiveness in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Firmness: Hamlet was firm and steadfast, and he did not waver or falter in his mission. He also endured a lot of hardships and sufferings, and he did not give up or surrender. I used Prussian blue to represent this attribute, as it is a dark blue with greenish tint that symbolizes firmness in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Wisdom: Hamlet was wise and intelligent, and he had a profound and philosophical understanding of life, death, and human nature. He also had a keen and analytical mind, and he was able to devise clever plans and strategies. I used indigo to represent this attribute, as it is a dark blue with purple tint that symbolizes wisdom in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Humility: Hamlet was humble and modest, and he did not boast or brag about his achievements or abilities. He also acknowledged his flaws and weaknesses, and he admitted his mistakes and regrets. I used violet to represent this attribute, as it is a purple that symbolizes humility in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Modesty: Hamlet was modest and unassuming, and he did not seek fame or glory for his actions. He also respected the privacy and secrets of others, and he did not reveal his true intentions or feelings. I used mauve to represent this attribute, as it is a pale purple that symbolizes modesty in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Love: Hamlet loved his father deeply, and he was loyal and devoted to his memory. He also loved Ophelia sincerely, and he mourned her death passionately. I used rose madder to represent this attribute, as it is a pinkish-red that symbolizes love in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Zeal: Hamlet was zealous and enthusiastic, and he had a strong desire and motivation to achieve his goals. He also had a fiery and spirited temperament, and he expressed his emotions intensely. I used carmine to represent this attribute, as it is a crimson red that symbolizes zeal in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Ardor: Hamlet was ardent and fervent, and he had a burning passion and dedication to his cause. He also had a warm and affectionate heart, and he showed his love and care for others. I used vermilion to represent this attribute, as it is a bright orange-red that symbolizes ardor in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Passion: Hamlet was passionate and emotional, and he had a deep and powerful feeling and attachment to his father, Ophelia, and Horatio. He also had a violent and impulsive nature, and he acted on his impulses and instincts. I used scarlet lake to represent this attribute, as it is a bright red that symbolizes passion in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Constancy: Hamlet was constant and faithful, and he did not change or betray his loyalties or beliefs. He also remained true and consistent to his character and personality, and he did not pretend or conform. I used burnt sienna to represent this attribute, as it is a reddish-brown that symbolizes constancy in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.
Steadfastness: Hamlet was steadfast and reliable, and he did not break or renounce his promises or vows. He also stood firm and resolute in his convictions and actions, and he did not retreat or flee. I used Vandyke brown to represent this attribute, as it is a dark brown that symbolizes steadfastness in Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme.

These are the attributes that I tried to portray in the image of Hamlet using Georgiana Houghton’s color scheme and a floral design framework. I hope you find them accurate and meaningful. 😊

My Final Comment

I did ask GPT4 to generate several more images – but they all still had faces. And none were as good as the one up top anyway. So, no, not a success. However, just to look at the positives: (1) We cannot be sure where GPT4 obtained the data on Hamlet’s psychology, although there is plenty about this on the internet. (2) The picture it created was Victorian in style and a bit abstract. Probably the LLM training set for this version of GPT4 set did not connect Victorian art with abstract art – not within its deep structure anyway. (3) The very muted colours were a reasonable interpretation of Victorian preferences for colour and (4) The scaling was not properly adhered to – I am now working with getting GPT4 to properly understand psychometric stanine scaling. More on this later.

Note: A later blog (Hamlet by DALL-E) in February 2024 explores this idea further.