Vol. 08 · Shakespeare ·Richard III, Act I.i ·Richard
"Now is the winter of our discontent. (standalone, meaning "times are bad")"
Not quite the line.
How it's usually quoted
"Now is the winter of our discontent. (standalone, meaning "times are bad")"
What Shakespeare actually wrote
"Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun of York." Richard — Richard III, Act I.i
Why it matters
Quoted alone, the line means the opposite of what Richard says. The full sentence announces the END of the winter — a glorious summer has arrived.
More from the canon.
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