In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the lines
you cite literally mean that Hamlet would have an actor whipped for overacting, because
overacting creates an overblown performance compared even to an overblown
tyrant.
Hamlet is offering acting suggestions or advice to
the 1 Player. He tells the actor to not overplay emotionally powerful speeches. He
mentions overblown hand gestures and impassioned words presented without restraint as
things to avoid. He says not to concentrate on pleasing the groundlings (those patrons
in standing positions on the floor of the playhouse who appreciate only mime shows and
spectacle). Impassioned speeches must appear natural, and not be overdone just to
impress the masses.
Termagant is thought to be a Mohammedan
deity, and is represented in medieval mystery plays as a violent and ranting personage,
according to the note on the text in the Norton Critical Edition of
the play. And Herod, of course, is the cruel tyrant from the New Testament. Hamlet
would, then, have an actor whipped for overdoing a violent and ranting Termagent,
because doing so would present a character even more cruel and violent and outlandish
than Herod's actual "performances."
Thematically, the scene
focuses on acting, playing roles, restraint, precision. Hamlet acts with restraint in
the play concerning his revenge, firmly establishing Claudius's guilt instead of acting
rashly, as Laertes does, for instance, after his father's death. And almost everyone
acts and plays different roles in the play: Hamlet pretends to be mad; Ophelia acts
like she doesn't love Hamlet and returns his gifts to her while Polonius and Claudius
spy on the two of them in order to judge Hamlet's reaction; Ros. and Guil. pretend to be
acting only as Hamlet's friends, when they are really acting on behalf of the
king.
Hamlet, of course, readers assume, wouldn't really
have an actor whipped for overacting. He is just making a
point.
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