The Importance of Actors in Hamlet Most characters in Hamlet present themselves as something other than themselves or as we, the audience, or another character think that should appear. Two of the main characters in this play, Hamlet and King Claudius, constantly act as something other than their true nature. Ironically, the characters who invoke the changes in Hamlet and King Claudius to reveal their true personalities are the players, mere actors themselves, who show no real emotions: (in this brief analysis, I will try to show the truth revealed by the players) yes they agitate King Claudius and allow Hamlet to see their appearance as truer to the truth than the appearance of "real-life characters", thus prompting him to act. Despite their fraudulent feelings, the players play a key role in showing the audience, not to mention Hamlet and King Claudius themselves, their true emotions in a tragic situation. One of the most difficult feelings is being a teenager - as some believe Hamlet to be - and not yet understanding how you should react to certain situations. In Act 2, Scene 2, Hamlet sees one of the players perform a dramatic monologue to show off his talent. His performance is very dramatic and full of emotion. At the end of Hamlet's soliloquy scene, he reveals that he cannot believe that an actor can muster more emotion for a story than he can feel for his real life. "What would he do / If he had the motive and [the cue] for the passion / That I have? He would sink the stage with tears" { 2. 2. 540-42 }. What if the player has in mind what Hamlet does? Would he kill Claudio? Hamlet seems to conclude that he would indeed like to do so. If it weren't for the players, we wouldn't understand King Claudius (or get there) if Hamlet wasn't influenced to test his character by re-enacting the murder. The theme of appearance versus reality in Hamlet could not be revealed with such depth without the help of the players, who act to invoke reality. The situations they create are vital to the play and to the development of Hamlet and King Claudius. Works Cited Bradley, AC. Shakespearean tragedy: lessons on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. New York: Penguin Books, 1991. Danson, Lawrence. "Tragic alphabet". Modern critical interpretations: Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. Rpt. from Tragic Alphabet: Shakespeare's Linguistic Drama. N. p.: Yale University Press, 1974.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. TJB Spencer. New York: Penguin, 1996.