JAWS MOVIE ANALYSIS
From the Mind and Imagination of Ted Smith
JAWS MOVIE ANALYSIS
by
Ted Smith
What Was the Shark Thinking?
Exploring the Motives Behind the Madness in Jaws
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975) terrified audiences not just because of a giant shark, but because that shark seemed to have something more than hunger — it had a motive. But what was it? Was the great white a mindless predator, or something more deliberate and sinister?
At first glance, the shark appears to be acting on instinct: it’s hungry, and swimmers at Amity Island make easy prey. But as the story unfolds, its actions seem to go beyond nature. The shark doesn't just attack once — it returns. It doesn’t just feed — it stalks, it destroys, and in one unforgettable scene, it seems to wage war on a boat.
Let’s break it down.
In the opening scene, the shark attacks Chrissie, a lone swimmer at night. She’s isolated and vulnerable — a perfect opportunity for a predator. Similarly, young Alex Kintner is killed while splashing in the water, which mimics a wounded animal — a known trigger for sharks. These attacks seem purely instinctual. But the shark keeps coming back. Why?
Some believe it’s territorial. Amity Island becomes its hunting ground, and repeated human presence doesn’t drive it away — it draws the shark in. From a biological perspective, that’s odd. Most sharks don’t pursue prey over long periods or revisit the same beach so aggressively. So is it just hunger?
The shark’s attack on a man in a rowboat is particularly brutal. He’s not even swimming — just close to the water. This suggests the shark is highly sensitive to motion and sound, or perhaps, by this point, it’s developed a “pattern” and is killing out of habit. But things truly escalate when the shark goes after Quint’s boat, the Orca.
Now the shark isn’t just hunting — it’s demolishing the boat, ramming it, breaking it apart, and isolating the crew. That’s where the “movie monster” theory kicks in. Real sharks don’t do that. But this shark does — and repeatedly. It’s almost personal.
By the time the final confrontation between Brody and the shark arrives, the creature is less of an animal and more of a cinematic villain. It’s cunning, relentless, and refuses to die. It behaves more like a slasher movie killer than a sea creature. Spielberg likely intended this — crafting the shark not just as a threat, but a symbol: of nature’s fury, of mankind’s hubris, or even of death itself.
So what was the shark’s motive? Technically, hunger and survival. But thematically? It’s revenge. It’s fear. It’s the unknown rising from the deep.
And maybe that’s why Jaws still scares us — because the shark wasn’t just swimming. It was hunting… with purpose.
General Motive Questions with Answers:
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Is the shark in Jaws attacking out of hunger, territory defense, or something else?
→ Likely hunger, but its unusually persistent behavior suggests it may also be territorial or abnormal for a great white. -
Does the shark deliberately stalk specific victims, or are they just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
→ Mostly wrong place, wrong time. However, the shark does return repeatedly, hinting at a pattern or learned behavior. -
Why does the shark keep returning to the same beach area despite the increased human activity and danger?
→ The area is a rich hunting ground due to frequent swimmers. The shark may not recognize the danger humans pose. -
Is the shark attracted to specific behaviors (e.g., splashing, swimming alone), and what does that suggest about its instincts?
→ Yes. Splashing mimics distressed prey, triggering a predatory response. Solitary swimmers are easier targets. -
Is there any indication that the shark’s actions are vengeful or unusually persistent beyond normal shark behavior?
→ Yes. Real sharks rarely attack boats or pursue prey this aggressively. This shark acts more like a movie monster.
Scene-Specific Motive Questions with Answers:
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Why does the shark attack Chrissie at night — is it because she was isolated, or is there a deeper predatory strategy?
→ Isolation made her an easy target. The shark likely detected her movements from below in low light. -
During the attack on Alex Kintner, is the shark targeting children specifically, or is it drawn to easier prey?
→ Not specifically children — the boy was splashing and alone, making him vulnerable. It's about opportunity. -
What motivates the shark to attack the man in the rowboat — is it the flailing or the proximity to the water?
→ Likely the man's movements in the water. Rowing and falling in created noise and vibration that attracted the shark. -
Why does the shark attack Quint’s boat (the Orca) so aggressively — is it threatened, or is it exhibiting territorial dominance?
→ It could be seen as dominance or instinct to eliminate a threat. This goes beyond natural behavior, adding cinematic tension. -
Is the shark’s final confrontation with Brody a result of intelligence and memory, or just a wild animal responding to stimuli?
→ More likely stimuli response, but the movie implies near-intelligence — it "seeks" Brody, raising the stakes.
Meta-Motive Questions with Answers:
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Do you think Spielberg gave the shark a ‘personality’ or motive beyond that of a natural predator?
→ Yes. The shark behaves with intention and menace, more like a villain than a real animal. -
Could the shark be seen symbolically, representing nature's revenge or mankind's fear of the unknown?
→ Absolutely. Many interpret the shark as a force of nature reclaiming dominance over man’s false sense of safety. -
Does the shark behave more like a movie monster than a real animal, and what does that say about its “motive”?
→ Yes. Its relentless pursuit, cunning, and destruction of the boat make it more monster than marine life. -
Would the story change if the shark’s attacks were purely accidental rather than seemingly intentional?
→ Definitely. The suspense and horror come from the idea that the shark “chooses” to return, making it scarier and more personal.
