Meaning

This confrontational question, directed at a mirror, captures the psychology of a man who has constructed an imaginary sense of power and purpose to fill an inner void. Travis Bickle is speaking to his own reflection, rehearsing the aggressive, dominant persona he wishes to project onto the world. The line is both a portrait of dangerous self-delusion and a surprisingly universal expression of the moments when people psych themselves up, draw a line, or decide they have had enough of being ignored.

Context

Taxi Driver was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader, released in 1976. Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle, a lonely, insomniac Vietnam veteran who drives a cab through the streets of New York City and gradually spirals toward violence. The mirror scene was largely improvised by De Niro, and that spontaneity gives it a raw, unsettling energy that scripted dialogue rarely achieves. The film is widely studied as a landmark of American cinema and a sharp portrait of urban alienation in the 1970s.

About the author

Travis Bickle is a fictional character created by screenwriter Paul Schrader and brought to life by Robert De Niro. Schrader has said the character drew on his own experiences of isolation and insomnia during a difficult period of his life. De Niro's immersive preparation for the role, including actually working as a cab driver in New York, has become one of the well-known examples of his commitment to method acting. The character remains one of the most discussed antiheroes in film history.