doth protest too much, methinks

[gatoran]

Feynman, in his book "Classic Feynman" takes his girlfriend to a dance where his two other friends were also there and the say "Now listen, Feynman, we want you to understand that we understand that Arline is your girl tonight, and we're not gonna bother you with her and she is out of bounds for us" but before long, there was cutting in and competition coming from precisely these guys and I learned the meaning of Shakespear's phrase "[He] doth protest too much, methinks."

Now please what does the phrase "[He] doth protest too much, methinks" mean in this context.

 

[PaulQ]

"[He] doth protest too much, methinks. = "I consider that [He] is complaining too much.

Feynman finds himself complaining too much about not having Arline to himself: he is referring to his own behaviour.

 

[gatoran]

Thank you very much PaulQ.

 

[se16teddy]

"[He] doth protest too much, methinks. = "I consider that [He] is complaining too much.

I think the expression means more than this and says that he is making his point so vehemently that it makes me doubt his truthfulness. In the example of #1 Feyman's friends conspicuously assure him that they won't sniff around his girlfriend, and then they do so.

There is more about the sense of the quotation here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_lady_doth_protest_too_much,_methinks

 

[PaulQ]

Wouldn't that be "[They] do protest too much."?

 

[se16teddy]

I don't think the two friends are likely to have made their promise in unison.

 

[Loob]

I agree with teddy: the "doth protest too much" only makes sense in this context if it's a reference to the friends rather than Feynman himself.

 

[Biffo]

I disagree with PaulQ and agree pretty much with se16teddy.

When Shakespeare used the word "protest" it did not mean "to complain". At that time and in that context it meant approximately "to assert". In the Feynman context it means approximately "to promise".

The other guys promised solemnly, and without being asked, that they would keep out of Feynman's way. They then proceeded to break their promises. When, in Shakespeare's time, people boast about what they will do or make exaggerated promises they are "protesting too much".

___________________________________________________________
Notes

1. The nearest meaning that we retain in modern English is,
protest
to assert or affirm in a formal or solemn manner
http://www.wordreference.com/definition/protest

2. "too much" is not adverbial. It does not mean that the protestations are protracted. It is the direct object of "protest". The guys promised too much; they made too great a promise - more than they were prepared to keep.

3. In the Shakespearian context, "Methinks she doth protest too much" is roughly equivalent to the modern "She is talking too much for her own good."

 

[gatoran]

I would like to thank you all for this enlightening discussion.