They never realize that any one of these cab drivers could be as disturbed and paranoid as Travis is. I think that this is one of the messages that Martin Scorsese tries to convey through this film: not to look at anyone a certain way just because of who they are or what they do. It's almost an allegory on the America of the 1970s in that sense. Perhaps this is an explanation for why Travis looks so incredibly strange when he is wearing his best suit and tie. We don't think of him as a guy who has a job, and gets dressed up for a special occasion. We think of him as a taxi driver, and that's probably all we'll ever think about him.
That's a very interesting view, but one that is hard to disagree with. Thinking on it, this is basically true in how we view cabbies, providing a good explanation as to why we found it weird that he dressed nicely.
ReplyDeleteI would have to disagree with you Max on this one because of one scene in particular. The scene where Palatine is in the cab and says that he learns more from cabbies then anyone else. I have to agree with that part. Whenever you are in a cab (or me specifically) my parents always strike up a conversation and we get to hear about all the interesting things in the specific city or just the latest news. I believe to some cabbies are nobodies, but to some they are the people who hold the most intelligence.
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