Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Matt Hooper

Chief Brody calls the oceanographic institute for help, and that help is Hooper. He's Brody's shark guru. His relentless curiosity and scientific know-how push Brody steadily toward the final climax with the shark. It's Hooper who confirms that Chrissie Watkins was killed by a shark, not a boat. He convinces Brody to cut open the tiger shark, confirming that Alex Kintner's killer is still out there. He discovers Ben Gardner's corpse and confirms that they're dealing with a great white. And he provides half of the gear that ultimately destroys the beast.

Quint

If Hooper is Brody's shark encyclopedia, Quint is his shark spell book. He's a quasi-mythical hunter who becomes a gruff—though surprisingly empathetic at times—mentor to Brody, teaching him to tie knots, guiding him in the basics of piloting a boat, and affectionately calling him "Chiefy." His knowledge of sharks is primal and personal, with experience as both a shark killer and a would-be shark victim. Though he's clearly haunted by the demons of WWII (and he really should have used a bigger boat), he's perhaps the only man who could prepare Brody to face the shark.