Character Analysis
Wizard is an older, seasoned cab driver. He has rough-edged opinions, and tells a lewd story about how he had sex with a woman who started taking off her panties in his cab.
He also has a more sensitive side. Although he says homophobic things, like using the word "f**" to describe two gay men who started fighting each other in the back of his cab, he also—wait for it—advocates for gay rights, appreciatively reacting to another cabbie saying that gay people qualify for alimony in California. Wizard says, "They're way ahead out there." He's a complicated guy, then—or, actually, a pretty simple guy.
He also genuinely wants to help Travis, when Travis admits that he's been having some bad thoughts. Wizard apparently thinks those thoughts have more to do with despair and hopelessness than with unbridled rage. He delivers a rambling speech:
"Look, look at it this way, you know uh, a man, a man takes a job, you know, and that job, I mean like that, and that it becomes what he is. You know like uh, you do a thing and that's what you are. Like I've been a, I've been a cabbie for seventeen years, ten years at night and I still don't own my own cab. You know why? 'Cause I don't want to. I must be what I, what I want. You know, to be on the night shift drivin' somebody else's cab. Understand? You, you, you become, you get a job, you you become the job. One guy lives in Brooklyn, one guy lives in Sutton Place, you get a lawyer, another guy's a doctor, another guy dies, another guy gets well, and you know, people are born. I envy you your youth. Go out and get laid. Get drunk, you know, do anything. 'Cause you got no choice anyway. I mean we're all f***ed, more or less, you know."
Travis tells him that this is "the dumbest thing I ever heard" and Wizard admits he's "not Bertrand Russell" (the famous British philosopher). He still consoles him, though, telling him to relax and that it'll be okay.
Of course, Travis doesn't take this advice—he goes on a murder rampage. However, it still does work out okay. Imagine that.