Taxi Driver

Travis Bickle, lonely Vietnam vet, driving cab through grimy New York at night. Isolation, alienation, insomnia established. Urban decay pervasive.

Travis: "I am God’s lonely man." Theme of loneliness, morality, obsession, and desire for connection or purpose.

Travis starts routine driving. Observes urban crime, degradation. Meets Betsy at campaign office. Social awkwardness, attempts at normalcy. Job, loneliness, and city decay defined.

Travis becomes infatuated with Betsy. Plans to ask her out. Obsession begins. Tension rising. First spark of hope in human connection.

Travis struggles with social ineptitude, morality, and violent impulses. Debates acting normally or giving into darker urges. Internal conflict.

Travis decides to take violent action against the corruption he sees. Buys guns. Prepares for confrontation. Transition into action-oriented mindset.

Relationship with Betsy and desire for love vs. isolation. Explores human connection, failed attempts at intimacy. Emotional stakes established.

Travis practices guns, imagines vigilantism. Prepares for assassination of political candidate. Inner obsession grows. Exploration of madness and preparation for action.

Travis kills sex worker pimp and rescues Iris. Violent act changes stakes. False victory: sees himself as hero.

Travis’ world unravels. Betsy rejects him. Police and criminals could discover him. Reality of urban violence presses in. Emotional tension peaks.

Travis near breakdown. No human connection. Violence escalates. Self-destructive behavior imminent.

Travis reflects on loneliness, morality, purpose. Confusion and despair dominate. Questioning if his actions have meaning.

Decides final violent action will define him. Assault on crime ring imminent. Acceptance of inevitable moral and physical consequences.

Travis kills criminals in shootout. Iris saved. Society sees him as hero. Ambiguity remains; internal chaos unresolved.

Travis driving cab, changed yet same. Lonely streets, urban decay, unresolved internal struggle. Isolation persists despite external recognition.