Chapter 54, The Other Thing Summary

One evening at Mulvey's, while Patrick drinks gin by himself, Brendan begins talking to Tina Kelleher. The couple touches arms and kiss. Patrick walks across the barroom floor and lights Tina's hair on fire.

Chapter 54, The Other Thing Analysis

The chapter title refers to the 'other thing' (besides the incident with Martina) that Patrick did to make himself unwanted in Tyreelin, which was setting Tina's hair on fire. Patrick is clearly still an angry individual, and, although he attempts to cope with his anger, he has yet to be successful at doing so.