Bronson's character loses his family and never actually finds satisfaction. He's truly courting death even as he deals it to the criminal predators that stalk the weak. It's grim and almost hopeless, as he can never really find justice for his murdered wife and psychologically destroyed daughter. If addressed the very real fears of decent people in the 1970s, as the city was allowed to descend into crime-ridden chaos under inept and ideologically corrupt Democrat leadership.