<P> The lady doth protest too much, methinks is a figure of speech originally found as a quotation from the c. 1600 play Hamlet by William Shakespeare . It is used in everyday speech to indicate doubt in someone's sincerity . </P> <P> The line, like most of Shakespeare's works, is in iambic pentameter . It is found in Act III, Scene II of Hamlet, where it is spoken by Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother . Hamlet believes that his father, the king, was murdered by his uncle Claudius (who then married Gertrude). Hamlet decides to stage a play, the Murder of Gonzago, that matches Hamlet's theory in its basic storyline, in order to test whether viewing it will trigger a guilty conscience on the part of Claudius . As Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius and others watch the play - within - the - play, the Player Queen, representing Gertrude, declares in flowery language that she will never remarry if her husband dies . Hamlet then turns to his mother and asks her, "Madam, how like you this play?", to which she replies "The lady doth protest too much, methinks ." Gertrude (who seems to at least suspect that the queen in the play is a stand - in for her) is saying that the Player Queen is being too effusive . Hamlet replies, "O, but she'll keep her word ." Gertrude uses the line in response to the insincere overacting of the Player Queen stating her love for her husband . </P>

Who said methinks he doth protest too much