Tim Kramer
Analysis Outline
Jaws: Peter Benchley/Steven Spielberg

Before I read the Novel Jaws by Peter Benchley, I expected the novel to be a whole lot better than the adaptation by Steven Spielberg. Steven Spielberg is a successful and well-known director, who obviously does not mess around with his choice of work. The book truly is a masterpiece. A great amount of detail is placed into the book and the dark toned depictions of the shark’s mind are present and make the novel more horrifying than the mechanical shark on film. The purpose of the film and book is to scare along with entertain. I enjoy the novel more than the book because I believe individuals may not find the movie horrifying but a reader of Benchley’s “Jaws” can take themselves for a ride by working their imagination throughout the reading.

The Purpose of “Jaws” is to scare the audience. The audience can be anybody from a small child, to a concerned father or mother taking their children to the beach. Also the audience can be a Spielberg lover, horror fanatic, fishermen, or anybody else interested in ocean life. The book itself immediately begins with a dark tone, literally a scene so dark the moon isn’t visible. Throughout the story, the shark sets an “on the edge of your seat tone” because Benchley makes the reader believe the shark can strike at anytime. Spielberg being such a popular name in Hollywood, grabs the attention of the media and creates a gory design throughout the film.

If it weren’t for Steven Spielberg there would not be very much credibility involved with the film. He is the reason Ethos is prevalent because the characters chosen for the role simply did not bring any hype although their work ended up magnificent. Pathos is present because Spielberg’s movies are infamous for becoming successful. That being said, odds are the film will be enjoyable according to the consumer. We can see pathos on the front cover of the book and film cover where we see a great white shark the size of a boat showing razor sharp teeth.

       
I.        Director Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” unsuccessfully recreates Peter Benchley’s original masterpiece novel about an infamous man-eating great white shark.
II.        Scenes throughout the novel depict the great white shark as a creature of the sea and in depth emotions of the beast are put on paper, while the film adaptation depicts the shark as only a headstrong and hungry carnivore.
III.        Yes, the box offices and ratings of the “Jaws” film show an absolute groundbreaking success, but the two story morals do not go hand in hand very well.