What was Big Willy Shakes going for?
Here Richard compares the seasons to the well being of England. On the surface, the line "winter of our discontent" suggests that Richard is celebrating his brother Edward's ascension to the throne. After all, he does suggest his bro's coronation had transformed winter to summer. Cold into hot. War into peace. Death into life. You get the idea.
Actually though, if we read carefully, the construction of the line belies Richard's happiness for his brother. The opening line of a play often sets the tone. And Richard's first words, "Now is the winter of our discontent" probably more aptly sum up the play than any other line.
If we only read the first line ("Now is the winter of our discontent") and stop there, Richard is basically admitting that he's really bummed out right "now," at this very moment. As we already know, Richard wants the crown for himself. It's not until the second line that Richard tells us that everyone else is happy about Edward's reign.
We also think it's interesting how Richard puns son and sun. Edward is the literal "son" of the Duke of York and he's also like his royal emblem, the sun that shines down upon us. Richard is telling us that the House of York (his family) is tickled pink that Edward IV is on the throne because now the sun is smiling upon them.
But the play is really about the darkest of dark times. The sun that is mentioned here is nowhere to be seen for most of the play. In fact, it's only with Richard's death will England's long winter end, to be followed by a summer rebirth with the union of Richmond and young Elizabeth.
But no one else knows that yet. All we know at this point is that Richard is delivering a sinister speech where he makes it sound like the winter months are over. When really they are just beginning.