Why Didn't Chief Brody and Hooper Show Everyone Ben Gardner's Boat and/or Corpse to Prove a Shark Was Terrorizing the Island in Jaws?

In Jaws, Chief Martin Brody and Quint (Hooper) do have substantial evidence of a shark attack, such as Ben Gardner's boat and the discovery of his severed head. Despite this evidence, they did not present it to the public. This decision was based on several practical and narrative considerations that the filmmakers wanted to maintain.

Public Panic

Showing the boat or Gardner's corpse could have incited widespread panic among the townspeople and tourists. Such an upheaval could have led to a complete shutdown of the beach and significant economic consequences for the town, which relied heavily on summer tourism. This risk is a critical factor in their decision not to disclose the evidence publicly.

Skepticism

The townspeople, including the mayor, were already skeptical about the existence of a great white shark. Displaying the evidence might not have been sufficient to convince everyone, especially if there were still doubts about the nature of the attack. This skepticism could have undermined their efforts to build a unified community response to the threat.

Focus on the Shark

Chief Brody and Hooper were more focused on finding and killing the shark rather than proving its existence to the public. Their primary objective was to ensure the safety of beachgoers and eliminate the imminent threat. Engaging in a public relations campaign to prove the shark's existence was not their top priority.

Mystique of the Shark

The film plays on the fear of the unknown. The unseen nature of the shark builds tension and suspense, which are crucial elements of the story. Revealing too much evidence too soon might have diminished the fear and suspense that the filmmakers intended to create throughout the narrative.

Realism of Human Reactions

The movie realistically portrays how people react to an unprecedented disaster. In the example you provided, the town's reaction reflects common human behavior: the mayor's request to see the tooth found by Hooper shows the skepticism many might have had. Brody's assertion that a tiger shark had never been in those waters suggests the town's initial disbelief.

However, as you noted, the presence of smaller sharks being killed by Quint may have created an environment where larger sharks thrived. This could explain why a different shark might have been responsible for the attack on Alex Kitner. Despite this, Hooper's failure to find evidence of human consumption during the autopsy might have been interpreted as a reason to question the shark's involvement.

Given Hooper's discovery and the lack of human remains, it's understandable why they did not bring it up at the Town Council. Presenting such evidence without concrete proof might have caused confusion and further skepticism, rather than clarifying the situation.

In conclusion, the decision not to show Ben Gardner's boat or corpse to the public was likely due to a combination of practical concerns for public safety and the narrative tension that the filmmakers aimed to maintain. The film's portrayal of human behavior in the face of a disaster is both realistic and essential to its overall impact and suspense.