We don’t want to be alone. We all seek companionship and try to find purpose in life. If we can’t find both of those things, what does life mean? When you lose hope for happiness, love, or any sense of meaning, you’re bound to spiral into destruction and hopelessness.
At least, this is one man’s bleak reality in Taxi Driver. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Taxi Driver stars Robert de Niro in the role of Travis Bickle, a man who descends into mental deterioration in 1970s New York. Released in early 1976, the film received critical acclaim and commercial success, becoming a cult classic.
Within the dark alleys and streets of New York City, the film offers a glimpse into the mind of a mentally unwell person left alone with his thoughts, which begin to irk and haunt him in his isolation. Far from just being “ill”, Bickle becomes a case study of someone drowning in paranoia and submitting to hedonistic distractions to try to cope with his lonely, miserable existence.
Travis, racked with insomnia and suffering from depression, takes a job as a night-time taxi driver, working long hours in a city and society he despises. He drives in run-down neighborhoods populated by what he views as the “dregs” of society. He soon meets Betsy, a young girl who works at the campaign offices of U.S. Senator Charles Palantine. However, their relationship falls apart due to Travis’s off-putting behavior. With nothing left to lose, Bickle becomes an armed vigilante. He attempts to save a young girl named Iris from a life of prostitution while training himself to assassinate Palantine.
Taxi Driver is a quintessential example of the consequences of near-total isolation. Travis is a mere bystander to everything and everyone around him, only catching glimpses of life through the rearview mirror of his taxi cab. He is isolated not only by his job, but also by his inability to meaningfully connect with others. For example, he tries to court Betsy, but fails because of his voyeuristic tendencies and his own shortcomings. While his life is an extreme example, many viewers can relate to his feelings and understand the root of his struggle.
No one should feel alone or unappreciated. However, especially with the rise of social media, there are many times when people feel like there’s no one to lend an ear or offer a shoulder to lean on. Online media has only deepened the struggle for real, meaningful relationships. Travis’s issues and their origins still resonate with audiences and are emblematic of the human desire to be understood, wanted, and valued.
Taxi Driver is also a divisive film in contemporary American culture. Travis Bickle is a character many can sympathize with due to his struggles, but he has unfortunately inspired others to commit evil. The film was an inspiration to John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981 in an unfounded attempt to impress Jodie Foster, who played Iris. Despite this controversy, the antihero tale of Travis serves as a cautionary warning of the effects of delusion-fueled violence and contempt for others. It offers a gritty reflection on the search for purpose and connection in an unforgiving world.
