It might seem strange to ask what a shark is looking for, where the shark gives no speeches and sings no songs. Bruce is not a Disney Princess. But does a monster like the great white shark in Jaws have things it wants? I think he might! Let’s find out using Steven Reiss’ 16 Desires.
Bruce can’t talk; if he did, it would probably be in bloody bubbles. But fortunately, Hooper, our wealthy and gregarious shark expert, does some explaining for Bruce.
Hooper: There are two ways to deal with this problem: you‘re either going to kill this animal or you‘re gonna cut off its food supply.
And then, to clarify his point to the Mayor, Hooper explains what a shark is and how big this one has grown.
Hooper: Mr. Vaughn, what we are dealing with here is a perfect engine, ah, an
eating machine. It’s really a miracle of evolution. All this machine does is swim and eat and make little sharks. And that’s all. Now why don’t you take a long close look at this sign. Those proportions are correct.
So, according to Hooper, sharks want to eat, swim around, and make baby eating machines. No one mentions whether sharks care for their young (they usually don’t), so a desire for a family is off, although this may become an issue in the sequels. Hooper does not talk about how they reproduce, so there is no shark romance.
Hooper gives an excellent overview, but it does not feel like Bruce because Bruce is not a regular shark. His behavior baffles shark-hunter Quint and shark-expert Hooper. Bruce gets away from Quint’s barrels, but then Bruce follows their boat.
Hooper: You ever have one do this before?
Quint: I don’t know. — Hold fast!
Hooper: He’s chasin‘ us, I don’t believe it!
Quint: We’re gonna draw him into the shadows, draw him in the shallow water, gonna draw him in and drown him. We’re headin’ in, Brody!
Martin: Thank Christ! Ever have a Great White do this?
Hooper: No!
Bruce is out for vengeance. He takes their hunt personally. And he will not give until his hunters are dead.
Does Bruce have a third desire? Maybe physical activity, curiosity, or independence are options. Sharks have to move to breathe. A shark that stops swimming will suffocate and die, precisely like Quint’s plan to kill Bruce. So Bruce is not necessarily more active than other sharks. Is Bruce curious? Not really, but he seems like the calculating shark and more intelligent than most.
Independence? Sharks are relatively independent by nature. But maybe Bruce is more independent than most sharks. Is Bruce motivated by others trying to control him? I think he might be. He goes explicitly after fishermen, and when the beach patrol brings out the armada, he circumvents them and goes into the estuary.
The more I think about it; Bruce doesn’t even care about eating. He’ll bite through cables, rip out chains, and chew through ropes to free himself. I think freedom motivates Bruce, too! He frees himself multiple times from barrels and harpoons, shaking off his bonds. He doesn’t have to because he’s such a giant shark. The barrels can’t float him to the surface.
And I overlooked another one, power. Does Bruce the shark want to dominate? Yes, he does. And we see it from his first victim, Chrissie Watkins.
Bruce can sneak around the shallow waters of Amity Island, quietly plucking victims under the water. He does it several times. But is that a reaction to all the shark watchers? He inspects his prey and surroundings, which is why he is so hard to catch. Set up a shark wall of boats and guns, and he will go into the estuary. But if he gets a chance, he will dominate his food.
Bruce doesn’t need to sink a ship to find food, but wants to. He is the dominant force in the ocean and wants to prove it. This combination of power and vengeance makes this shark highly motivated by your threats. Hunt him, and he will take it personally. He will dominate and eat you.
Bruce is powerful and wants to take on bigger prey. He is not much of a leader as far as we know, but he controls his waters.
So here are my guesses for Bruce’s desires:
- Vengeance (Compete, Retaliate, Defeat, come from behind)
- Power (Domination, Control, Authority)
- Independence (Freedom, Self Reliance, Determination)
I thought for sure eating was going to be on Bruce’s list! But Bruce does not care what he eats. He is eating for power, chasing boats for vengeance, and chewing through ropes for freedom. He frees himself from fishing lines and then goes after the fishermen. And he doesn’t just eat his food; he dominates it. He leaves limbs and torsos behind in his wake. Bruce is not a shark foodie!
Well, that is not what I expected. Bruce is a powerhouse! You don’t want to be anywhere near him. Offend him, and he will chase you forever. Trap him, and he will escape. Get in his waters, and he will dominate you. What a force to be reckoned with! He’ll eat you, but probably leave the carnage behind to terrorize your friends.
No wonder Quint and Hooper are so scared by Bruce’s behavior. They are used to sharks that want to eat, swim and make more sharks, but eating is not even a motivator for Bruce. Once he has his sights set on you, he will never give up. You have offended all of his desires by trying to catch him.
Bruce surprised me in this game of guessing desires. I thought a shark of all movie monsters would be simple in its motivations. This is just a game to understand Reiss’ 16 desires better, so you might disagree. But for me, when desires click in, it is like a lock combination opens. Suddenly, it is almost like I can see the personality driving the characters’ actions, even if it is Bruce the shark.
Daniel N. Blair 