Question

In criticizing the performance of the queen in the play, Queen Gertrude says, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." What does this famous line mean?

a) The queen believes the lady in the play is too defensive.
b) The queen thinks the lady in the play is exaggerating.
c) The queen suspects the lady in the play is insincere.
d) The queen is praising the lady's strong convictions.

Answer 1

The line means that the queen suspects the lady in the play is insincere.

Step-by-step explanation:

The famous line, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks," means that the queen suspects the lady in the play is insincere. This phrase is from the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and it is spoken by Queen Gertrude. In this context, the queen believes that the lady in the play is overemphasizing her defense or denial of something, which leads her to suspect that the lady is actually being dishonest or hiding something.