Taxi Driver: Travis Bickle is weird

Travis Bickle is definitely a weird one. Anything from why he randomly decided that he wanted to bear arms, to fooling around with those guns in his room, and narrating the whole film in a voice as if he's a little "slow" (if you know what I mean), leads me to believe he isn't all there. Besides the fact that he was a discharged U.S Marine in the past, I can't seem to pinpoint him. I understand his urge and desire for Betsy and how, rightfully so, he is a very persuasive man when it comes to her. However, what confused me was how he could want her SO much and how his passion for her was so immense in the beginning, then just all of the sudden he starts playing with guns and now she's out of the picture until the end of the film. I know she blew him off and she was upset with him, but the contrast between wanting her then to not wanting her and becoming a criminal was a rough transition. I believe Travis is a very confused man. But I almost understand the confusion in a way. It's meant for us as viewers to interpret our own version of what's going on. Ultimately, I feel Travis is very lost. He's trying to find himself while recreating himself but that's what makes the movie great. Travis has this determination to do and finish whatever he wants to do. Whether it's getting Betsy to go out to get coffee with him or to help Iris get away from the pimps, he's going to get it done. And that determination is admirable in the film. His actions may be "different" (for lack of a better word) and random, but he has this passion for what he does that shines through the film. I can't say he's the "perfect man" but being imperfect makes his presence strong.