Dubliners

why was farrington pleased for what he had done?

counterparts

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After the day in question in “Counterparts,” the rage becomes so explosive that Farrington unleashes it on the most innocent figure in his world, one of his children. The root of Farrington’s problem is his inability to realize the maddening circularity that defines his days. Farrington has no boundaries between the different parts of his world: his work life mimics his social life and his family life. No one part of his life can serve as an escape from any other part because each element has the potential to enrage him. Farrington consistently makes life worse for himself, not better. He slips away from work as he pleases, insults his boss, and matter-of-factly pawns his watch to buy alcohol.

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"Though each small rebellion makes him momentarily happy, the displaced rage simply reappears someplace else, usually exacerbated by his actions."

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This lack of mindfulness about the consequences of his actions spills over into Farrington’s anger, over which he appears to have little or no control.

Source(s)

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dubliners/canalysis.html