It’s not quite a misquotation, but the extra comma in the Shakespeare line reinforces a very common misunderstanding of the line, that usually comes from quoting only the first clause.
The actual meaning is perhaps best understood by postponing the IS: “NOW the winter of our discontent IS MADE glorious summer by this son [sun] of York.” You could even put HAS BEEN MADE for IS MADE to fit the modern ear a little more.
That can be understood as answering “What just happened?” and the answer is paraphrased as “Winter has been made summer”. If all you quote is “Now is the winter of our discontent” — or as here set it off with a pause — you’re in effect answering the mere chronological question “What season is it now?” .
It’s not quite a misquotation, but the extra comma in the Shakespeare line reinforces a very common misunderstanding of the line, that usually comes from quoting only the first clause.
The actual meaning is perhaps best understood by postponing the IS: “NOW the winter of our discontent IS MADE glorious summer by this son [sun] of York.” You could even put HAS BEEN MADE for IS MADE to fit the modern ear a little more.
That can be understood as answering “What just happened?” and the answer is paraphrased as “Winter has been made summer”. If all you quote is “Now is the winter of our discontent” — or as here set it off with a pause — you’re in effect answering the mere chronological question “What season is it now?” .