He Didn T Need A Bigger Boat: Police Chief Martin Brody Of Jaws

He Didn’t Need a Bigger Boat: Police Chief Martin Brody of Jaws A place of tourism and fun is ruined by a giant, man-eating shark, and only one man steps up to hunt it down: Police Chief Martin Brody of Jaws. Brody, along with a few others, sets out to slay the monster Great White that’s been terrorizing the crowded beaches of Amity Island. On his quest, Chief Brody not only hunts the shark but also learns the value of selflessness, confidence, and facing your fears in order to protect those you love. Even though Jaws doesn’t always match the hero’s journey archetype, Chief Brody steps out of his comfort zone, builds up all the courage he has, and becomes the savior for the small island, making him an excellent modern and Hemingway hero. Martin …show more content…
Although he never refuses the call himself, others try to coerce him into refusal. Mayor Larry Vaughn tells Brody to keep the incident quiet, as the Fourth of July Weekend, Amity’s biggest revenue time, is near: “Martin, it's all psychological. You yell barracuda, everybody says, ‘Huh? What?’ You yell shark, we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July.” Brody is forced to say Chrissie was dismembered by a mere boat propeller, but calls in ichthyologist Matt Hooper to know for sure. Hooper insists that her injuries had to be caused by a shark, and a very large one at that. After the first public beach attack, where a little boy was eaten, the town’s officials hold a meeting, now knowing they cannot keep the truth hidden anymore. Brody persuades Mayor Vaughn to close the beaches: “Larry, the summer is over. You're the mayor of ‘shark city.’ These people think you want the beaches open.” The town meets Quint, a rough fisherman who claims he can catch the shark. After several more attacks and a near-death experience involving his own son, Brody gains more than enough reason to accept the call and do what is right for his family, friends, and the citizens of Amity Island. Brody gains Hooper and Quint as helpers, and the three of them decide to team up to hunt the island’s menace together. The team sets out on Quint’s unkempt boat into the …show more content…
Brody has a deep fear of water and boats, as Ellen explains to Hooper, “Martin hates boats. Martin hates water. Martin... Martin sits in his car when we go on the ferry to the mainland. I guess it's a childhood thing. It's a... there's a clinical name for it isn't there?” To which Brody sharply responds, “Drowning.” This fear has a great impact on Brody, as he has to fight his entire battle on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Mayor Vaughn, rather than thinking about what is best for the people, only cares about how much profit Amity earns. After the first few attacks, Vaughn states, “I'm only trying to say that Amity is a summer town. We need summer dollars. Now, if the people can't swim here, they'll be glad to swim at the beaches of Cape Cod, the Hamptons, Long Island…”. His statement implies that he would rather have the vacationers be injured or even die rather than tell them about the dangerous shark that lurks in their waters, which would have them spending their money at other beaches. When Brody informs Vaughn that he will promptly be closing the beach due to the shark, the money-obsessed mayor simply will not hear it. Brody’s job is threatened, forcing him into a difficult decision: the town’s safety or his job as chief police officer. Brody not only deals with those mental challenges, but physical ones as well. The boat Quint provides