Why does he blame the jacket for those bad years?

He blames the jacket for those bad years because it symbolizes a turning point in his life, representing a series of unfortunate events that followed its acquisition. The jacket serves as a physical reminder of his misfortunes, making it easy for him to project his feelings of regret and disappointment onto it. By attributing his struggles to the jacket, he externalizes his pain and avoids confronting deeper personal issues. Ultimately, it becomes a scapegoat for his feelings of helplessness during that turbulent period.