Is art in general like a mirror that reflects society's flawed nature?

In Act 3:2, Hamlet is preparing the players for acting. He tells them to be true to reality and not overdo it. In line thirteen, Hamlet tells the player "I would have such a fellow whipped for e'erdoing Termagant. It out-Herods Herod. Pray you, avoid it." His emphasis on remaining true and believable is clearly evident in this scene. He tends to generalize about things and the play is no exception.

He also makes a point that the players should be passionate enough about their parts so that they may have an impact on the audience. In line sixteen, he declares "Be not too tame either, but let your own discretion be your tutor. Suit the action to the word...with this special observance, that you e'erstep not the modesty of nature." He wants to make sure that this artform becomes a mirror to reality, exposing all the true emotions of the characters, without being too fake and insincere. It is meant to uncover the bad aspects of human nature. The whole reason for the play is to be so true to the real-life circumstances that is causes his uncle, King Claudius to feel guilty enough to confess.

Later in Hamlets advice to the actors, he says in line twenty six how they must apply "the censure of the wich one must in your allowance o'erweigh a whole theatre of others." Thier artistic display must be entirely convincing to the audience as a whole to be succesful. One cannot procede to simlply make the fool laugh or the judicious grieve. He must focus his artisic abilities on the precise portrayal of the figure they represent. Inherantly, they almost become who they are representing. This is what art is meant to do, reflect society as it is. No barriers, no facades, but pure embodiment of each aspect of reality, whether it is good, bad, or ugly.