Shakespeare References in The Winter Of Our Discontent

John Steinbeck's The Winter Of Our Discontent contains a few Shakespeare references. Obviously, the title itself comes from the opening speech of Richard The Third, and actually the very first line. "Now is the winter of our discontent/Made glorious summer by this son of York." The book contains a reference to Hamlet, with Steinbeck having his main character, Ethan, say, "Ah! There's the rub - Shakespeare" (p. 123). The phrase "there's the rub" comes from Hamlet's most famous soliloquy: "To sleep, perchance to dream. Ah, there's the rub/For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,/When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,/Must give us pause." There is also a reference to Antony And Cleoptra, when Ethan says, "You must come to Rome! Egypt isn't big enough for you. The great world calls" (p. 150). Though, as far as I can recall, that's not a direct quote from the play. The opening lines of Richard The Third are delivered by Ethan at one point: "And I sang too: 'Now is the winter of our discontent/Made glorious summer by this sun of York.' I know it's not a song, but I sang it" (p. 158). The novel also contains a reference to Richard The Second, when Ethan says, "Must I tell you my sad story of the death of kings?" (p. 162). That refers to King Richard's line, "let us sit upon the ground/And tell sad stories of the death of kings." And the book has a reference to Julius Caesar. Ethan tells his son, "I'll not let loose the dogs of war tonight" (p. 265). That is a reference to Mark Antony's line, "Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war." The final Shakespeare reference is to Richard The Third again, with Ethan quoting, "Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York" (p. 265). Note that the first time, the word was given as "sun" and this time as "son." Ethan's daughter Ellen replies, "That's Shakespeare" (p. 265).

The Winter Of Our Discontent was published in 1961. My copy is a First Edition.