In Act IV of Hamlet, why does Shakespeare include the plot event in which Horatio reads and reacts to Hamlet's letter about an encounter with pirates?

a. to establish Hamlet's humility in defeat.

b. to establish Hamlet's preoccupation with revenge.

c. to establish Horatio's steadfast loyalty to Hamlet.

d. to establish Horatio's cunning motives.

C. to establish Horatio's steadfast loyalty to Hamlet

Explanation:

In Act II, Horatio is shown as the closest and the most trusted friend of Hamlet who told him all his plans. Horatio takes a solemn vow to maintain the secrecy about the Hamlet's pretense of madness. He even is a party to the conspiracy to prove King Claudius' crime through the enactment of the play The Murder of Gonzago. Shakespeare uses Horatio's reaction about the encounter with pirates to show that Horatio is a die-hard loyal friend.

c. To establish Horatio's steadfast loyalty to Hamlet.

Explanation:

William Shakespeare's tragedy play "Hamlet" revolves round the avengement of the death of King Hamlet at the hands of his own brother Claudius who has now become the king. The young prince Hamlet's plans of bringing the truth out and avenging his father covers the whole plot.

The character of Horatio was seen as a true and loyal friend of the young prince Hamlet. Even though some of the other friends such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern shifted their loyalties from Hamlet to Claudius as the plot progresses, Horatio remains loyal to his friend. The letter scene of Act IV scene vi is to show the loyalty of Horatio. He immediately did what he was asked to do by Hamlet. If he had wanted to betray him, he wouldn't have led the sailors to deliver the letters to the king.