The conflict between Man and Nature in Jaws

Peter Benchley’s novel Jaws focuses on the story of a killer shark that is disturbing the
peace of Amity Island. The shark is depicted as a self-preserver who survives by obeying its own
instincts. Chief Martin Brody, the protagonist in the novel, has a role in saving the Island from
the rogue shark. Brody feels that he is responsible for keeping the people on the Island safe.
They all face one major threat, the shark. The story focuses on the conflict between man and
nature as each tries to eliminate the other and prevail.
The conflict between man and nature is evident throughout the novel. Brody yearns for
social acceptance within his community. He has a fear of water, and this is a huge impediment to
performing his job. Brody is aware of his role and even asserts that he wants to ensure the safety
of the people on the Island. He says, “Well, then, unofficially I figure it’s my responsibility to
keep the people who live here as safe as I can, and at the moment, it’s my judgment that that
means closing the beaches for a couple of days” (Benchley 32). Brody wants people to stay away
from the water because it is dangerous. They could be killed y the shark. He, however, cannot
arrest anyone for swimming. A decision to close the beach from human access is not fruitful. It
cannot be closed for long as people want to enjoy the activities associated with the beach.

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The conflict between man and nature prevails. As much as the shark makes the waters
dangerous for the people on the Island, the people insist on wanting to go to the beach. Brody
realizes that he can gain acceptance within society by doing one main thing that will make him
be acknowledged. He realizes that if he faces his biggest fear and kills the shark, then he will
make the waters safe for humans. These plans depict a power tussle between man and nature
(Robinson 66). The shark is demonstrated as a threat to human life. Humans, too, are a threat to
the shark. Each is seeking the other. It is like they are both baying for each other’s blood. While
the best solution is to have the beach closed down and preserve both human life and that of the
shark, Brody wants to resolve the conflict by killing the shark.
The beaches remain open and the people continue streaming in to see the killer shark.
Brody was concerned about their safety hence the reason he sent patrols to watch for the killer
fish. A boy narrowly escapes a shark attack and this prompts Brody to close the beach. He
instructs Hendrick, “Then go put on some clothes and find some notices that close the beaches”
(Benchley 47). Brody comes off as a caring leader who is willing to protect the people at all
costs. He had the power bestowed on him by the people who had elected him (Stratyner 211). He
is saddened by the shark attacks. The conflict between man and nature intensifies as Brody hires
Quint who is a professional shark hunter to hunt down the shark and kill it. While that is
dangerous for the marine ecosystem, Brody does not seem to care much about the environment.
He is concerned more about the safety of the people. As an elected leader, he feels that he has a
responsibility to keep everyone safe.
Quint, Brody, and Hooper set for the sea with only one mission; to kill the shark. The aim
is to ensure that the people are safe and with the shark frequenting the beach, their safety cannot
be guaranteed. After three days at the sea with little success, the three men decide to bring a

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shark-proof cage onboard and use it to kill the shark. quint first disagrees. He says, “A sensible
man knows his limits. A fish that big could eat that cage for breakfast” (Benchley 209).
However, Hooper insists and Quint agrees to have the cage on board. Hopper then went under
the water with the cage and in an unexpected turn of events, the shark attacks the cage and
proceeds to attack and eat Hooper. Hooper had been warned but he could not listen. Peter depicts
the sharks as very dangerous creatures (Wesley 79).  Man had his limits and the shark, nature in
this case, is stronger than humans. 

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Works Cited

Benchley, Peter. Jaws. Fawcett, 1991.
Robinson, David. “Monster or great fish? Peter Benchley’s Jaws as ecocritical text.” Scrutiny2
21.3 (2016): 57-72.
Stratyner, Leslie. “‘The Mayor of Shark City’: Political Power in Jaws.” The Politics of Horror.
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2020. 209-218.
Wesley, Marilyn C. Refusual. “Peter Benchley.” Paging New Jersey: A Literary Guide to the
Garden State (2003): 79.