Final answer:
Not all characters contribute equally to the atmosphere of corruption; it's usually the actions of specific individuals, alongside systemic factors, that lead to corruption in society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks if everyone is responsible for the cloud of corruption over Elsinore in the context of a literary work. Answering this requires an understanding of the themes and characters within that work. In general literary analysis, not all characters contribute equally to such an atmosphere. While some propagate corruption actively, others may be passively involved or even victims of the corrupt environment. Often, it is a combination of factors, including the actions of specific individuals, social norms, and political structures, that contribute to a corrupt society. Lord Acton's famous aphorism, 'Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely,' highlights the influence of power on corruption. Historical examples and philosophical texts substantiate the belief that systemic issues, such as a lack of oversight or moral decay in citizens, can lead to widespread corruption. Thus, the answer likely aligns with option b, where only certain characters perpetuate corruption, but it is also important to consider the systemic factors that enable or worsen corruption.