The Trouble with Travis

Throughout the film Taxi Driver, the audience is introduced to the troubles of main character Travis Bickle. Troubles that include insomnia, disgust with the people who occupy New York City, troubles with making and maintaining relationships, and troubles with himself, drive the film to the ultimate breaking point when Travis kills the pimps who employ a 12 year old named Iris that Travis is interested in "helping." The scene that I am interested in investigating begins at [20:23-22:23] when Travis decides to enter Palantine's campaign office to ask Betsy out on a date.

The scene begins when Travis approaches the desk that Betsy is sitting at. Their conversation is initiated by Travis' proposal to become a volunteer for the office. Complications in the fluidity of their conversation arise when Travis is unable to produce solid answers to the questions Betsy asks him about Palantine's policy and campaign. However, for the first time Travis seems to spark a mild confidence as he casually brushes off the lack of knowledge and supplies supportive words and interest in the presidential candidate. As Betsy informs Travis of the hours required as a volunteer, Travis interrupts and tells her that he unfortunately works as a taxi driver at night. As Travis reveals his job, Betsy moves away from him and adjusts her posture to appear "'proper."

It is in this moment that Travis' position in society aligns with scum he is disgusted with, and Betsy and the other volunteers at Palantine's office are above him. Travis' attempt to break through the societal barrier between the two different worlds comes through in his approach for a date with Betsy. Something changes. Travis, although persistent, masks his insecurities with a kindness and welcoming gesture that reels Betsy in. Their dialogue shifts when Travis suggest that she could call him a friend if she wanted to. Betsy replies with "Are you gonna be my friend?" with an inviting quality behind her words. 

This scene is significant to the entirety of the film and to the deterioration of Travis' mentality throughout the film, because this is a turning point for Travis. His motivation is to gain Betsy in his life, as a friend or as a potential lover. When she accepts his gesture and they go out on a date later in the film, Travis makes attempts to please her in the ways he feels appropriate. The moments of confident Travis and Betsy, the audience sees Travis cleaned up and in semi-formal attire instead of his casual button downs and military jacket. Travis is also more vocal than he appears in majority of the film, and Travis has a particularly calm and positive nature than his exposed violent one he possesses in the key scenes of Taxi Driver.

I think that Betsy, along with Iris, had the potential to "help" Travis if things went accordingly. As this scene shows, there was a potential good outcome for Travis, but when his control slips from his hands and he realizes that his plans fall through, violence and "revenge" surface and the film that was produced becomes the final product.