Peter Benchley wrote Jaws in a modest room above a New Jersey company, initially considering dramatic titles. The novel depicts a shark terrorizing the fictional town of Amity, focusing on class conflicts between local residents and an outsider expert. When the film adaptation was released in 1975, it became a summer blockbuster but altered the political message, portraying townsfolk in a less favorable light, frustrating Benchley. Despite retaining the basic plot, the adaptation ultimately diverged from the novel’s themes, particularly in its portrayal of class and community dynamics.
Benchley once said that he set out to create a novel that could be considered 'a Ulysses for the 1970s,' highlighting Jaws' cultural significance.
The film adaptation of Jaws flipped the book's politics, portraying the townspeople with contempt, contrasting with the novel's empathetic depiction of their struggles.
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