Question

read the excerpt from hamlet.
hamlet: no, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it; as thus: alexander died, alexander was buried, alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam, and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel?
imperious caesar, dead and turn’d to clay,
might stop a hole to keep the wind away
shakespeare makes allusions to the great rulers alexander and caesar to
○ contrast the deaths of alexander and caesar.
○ show how kings should behave around death.
○ compare hamlet to two rulers who died.
○ emphasize that everyone eventually dies.

Explanation:

In the Hamlet excerpt, Shakespeare uses Alexander and Caesar (great rulers) to show that even they, after death, turn to dust/clay. This illustrates that death is universal—everyone, regardless of status, will die. The other options are incorrect: there's no contrast of their deaths, no focus on kingly behavior around death, and no comparison of Hamlet to them.

Answer:

D. emphasize that everyone eventually dies.