Read the excerpt from Act IV of Hamlet.

Rosencrantz: Take you me for a sponge, my lord?

Hamlet: Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again.

This exchange reflects Shakespeare's time because

sponges were new and popular in Elizabethan society.

scientists in the 1600s were studying the human body.

rulers gained power by surrounding themselves with loyal officers.

common people felt that they were ignored by their royal leaders.

rulers gained power by surrounding themselves with loyal officers. This is the right answer.

In this excerpt, Hamlet shows Rosencrantz is too loyal to Claudius. In fact, Hamlet thinks he is Claudius' spy. Hamlet has jut killed Polonius and Rosencrantz asks him about Polonius' body. Hamlet calls Rosencratz a sponge because he does what the king orders and in this way the king becomes so powerful. The king uses their loyal men but then, he will also get rid of them. Hamlet does not tell Rosencratz where the body is.

These options are not right:

-sponges were new and popular in Elizabethan society. (The sponge is used as a metaphor. The king makes his loyal men soak his needs).

-scientists in the 1600s were studying the human body. (The metaphorical use of the sponge is not related to science).

-common people felt that they were ignored by their royal leaders (The focus is put on men loyal to the king, Rosencrantz, not on common people).