Eralte 1

Daniel Eralte

Professor Hyde

ENC-1102

24 August 2023

Elements of Literature in Taxi Driver

Travis Bickle, the main character, and Sport, the antagonist, both exemplify contrasting

character types in Martin Scorsese's movie "Taxi Driver," with Travis exhibiting dynamic

attributes and Sport embodying a static one. The plot of Taxi Driver centers on Travis Bickle, a

Vietnam War veteran who now works as a cab driver in New York City and who gradually loses

faith in humanity. The narrative's central theme is his spiral into lunacy and fixation with

scrubbing the city's streets clean. According to IMDb, "Travis Bickle is an example of an anti-

hero who rebels against societal norms, while Sport represents the darker aspects of society"

(Riganas). Due to his complicated and changing nature, Travis Bickle may be characterized as a

round and dynamic figure. Travis is shown as socially awkward and lonely at the start of the

movie. However, as the narrative goes on, his interactions and experiences mold his worldview

and encourage him to take aggressive action. Travis's shift from being a passive witness of the

city's decline to an active player in its restoration is an illustration of his dynamic personality.

This is evident when he declares, "Someday real rain will come and wash all this scum off the

streets" (Hugo). Sport, the adversary, is contrasted with this as being a bland and unchanging

figure. Sport plays the same character as a pimp who takes advantage of young girls throughout

the entire movie. In contrast to Travis's shifting perspective, he stands for the unchangeable and

rotten underbelly of civilization. His constant participation in unethical actions emphasizes

sport's static character and highlights his status as a symbol of social corruption. The film's
 Eralte 2

examination of moral ambiguity and human change is made possible by the contrast between

Travis Bickle and Sport's character types. Because of his dynamic character, Travis's internal

conflicts may be explored in more detail as he battles his disillusionment and spirals into

violence. His change embodies the movie's themes of alienation, atonement, and the hazy

distinctions between virtue and vice. Sport, on the other hand, is a steady presence that stands in

contrast to the ever-present gloomy forces in society. The narrative tension between him and

Travis is heightened by his constant participation in unethical actions, which stands in striking

contrast to Travis's developing convictions. In conclusion, Taxi Driver features a dynamic and

round protagonist in Travis Bickle, whose personality changes throughout the movie, in contrast

to Sport, the antagonist, who is a static and flat embodiment of society corruption. The film's

investigation of morality and the battle of the individual against a failing society receives depth

through this contrasted depiction, which also strengthens the exploration of issues.
 Eralte 3

Works Cited

"Taxi Driver (1976) - Plot Summary." IMDb, www.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/plotsummary?

ref_=tt_stry_pl#synopsis.

"Taxi Driver (1976) - Plot Summary - IMDb." IMDb,

www.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl#synopsis.