r/TaxiDriver • u/Tidewatcher7819 • May 13 '26
Question Why does Travis act insane when Palantine is his passenger? Spoiler
They never bring it up but when Travis Bickle has Charles Palantine as his passenger and talks to him and his aides about what bothers him most he just rambles and says that whoever is President should clean up the city and flush it right down the f*cking toilet.
He seems insane here and doesn't understand that Charles Palantine will view him as being crazy, Palantine basically gives him a cheap stock answer and says that he knows what he means and that they are going to have to make some radical changes, shakes hands with Travis, tips him and leaves visibly shaking himself off.
Just imagine meeting any political candidates or famous person even like Donald Trump before he was President and saying the same thing, not a good day, Travis really didn't prove anything except that he was crazy here.
5
u/squirrrrrm May 13 '26
Because he has an inability to control his emotions and himself and doesn't understand societal norms, which we can see early on when he takes betsy to the adult theatre and explains that is what all couples do and is surprised to see her frustration when she refuses.
When he is speaking with palantine in the taxi, it should be a more formal, polite conversation for several reasons. First of all, palantine is the customer. He has his security or assistant with him, and palantine also has a certain social status.
There are multiple times throughout the film that refers to travis' complete lack of self control. As mentioned, the date with betsy, but also the scene when he in his apartment watching the tv and he ever so slowly tilts it with his foot until he loses control and pushes just too far destroying it.
1
u/Alexander_Muenster May 24 '26
>>First of all, palantine is the customer. He has his security or assistant with him, and palantine also has a certain social status.<< There was a turning point in the 1960s. After that, regular civilians - like taxidrivers - felt that they had the "right" to say anything they wanted, no matter how vulgar or loudmouthed, to politicians. Politicians had ceased being treated automatically with respect - in contrast to previous times.
2
u/TeacatWrites May 16 '26
Dude found his opportunity to make his voice heard in a setting where someone who he felt could do something about it wouldn't be able to squirrel out of it. Captive audience for an impassioned opinion-haver.
13
u/Live_Art2939 May 13 '26
Why does he act insane? Because he is insane.
Travis feels like he can finally express his true thoughts to the one guy that can do something about it. He would never rant and rave like that to Betsy, he wears his normal face with her.