Trauma and Violence in Taxi Driver (1976)

This study aims to analyze the underlying meaning of Taxi Driver (1976) by Martin Scorsese. With the intention to prove that the trauma the main character, Travis Bickle has suffered in the Vietnam war is the major driving force behind his violent tendencies. By implementing trauma theory into the creators’ own remarks, I would like to expand the existing interpretation of the film. By using real life symptoms of PTSD, and comparing them to the mental state of the protagonist, I examine his trauma-driven behavior. This analysis also reflects on the violent aspects of the film, explaining Travis’ actions as a result of his Trauma. This study intends to use the creator’s intended interpretations of the film, and expand that, to put it into a new perspective.