Born on June 6, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, as Norma Jeane Baker, Marilyn Monroe endured significant challenges during her formative years. Raised by 12 different sets of foster parents and experiencing time in an orphanage, Monroe's early life was marked by instability and adversity. Nevertheless, her remarkable journey from humble beginnings to global renown stands as a testament to her resilience and unwavering determination. Transitioning from a tumultuous childhood to a celebrated career in modeling and film, Monroe's life narrative embodies both triumph and tragedy, offering insights into the complexities of fame and the human condition. This essay aims to delve into Marilyn Monroe's multifaceted legacy, examining her ascent to …show more content…
Monroe's allure and charm quickly captured the attention of photographers, who frequently featured her in pinup magazines, showcasing her iconic hourglass figure in two-piece bathing suits. Her popularity soared to such heights that her image graced the covers of multiple pinup magazines simultaneously. With her platinum blonde curls and unmistakable glamour, Monroe’s embodied elegance, setting a new standard of beauty in the post-war era. Her modeling career not only catapulted her to fame but also established her as a timeless cultural icon, leaving an indelible mark on the realms of fashion and beauty that continues to resonate to this day. Marilyn Monroe's influence on film exceeded her celebrity status; she embodied the essence of Hollywood's glamor and allure. Renowned for her captivating screen presence and undeniable talent, Monroe graced audiences with unforgettable performances in classics such as "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Some Like It Hot," and "The Seven Year Itch." Beyond her striking beauty, Monroe's ability to portray multifaceted characters with depth and vulnerability set her apart in Hollywood's golden
Robert F Kennedy had gone to Marilyn's home that day, they had gotten into an argument and sometime after that he left with a partner of Ginancana named Johnny Roselli. He visited her around 10pm, purposely leaving the front door unlocked, letting five hit men enter her house. One crept up behind her and slipped a chloroform-soaked washcloth over her face and gave her an enema of barbiturates and took her to her bathroom. Departing the house when they hear Marilyn's housekeeper come into the house” said Darwin Potter, biographer and travel writer. Police contact and a man named Peter Lawford arrived and stole Marilyn Monroe's little red diary, which she kept all her sexual affair details in, which all made the scene after a while.
Marilyn Monroe was born on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. Monroe was originally given the name Norma Jeane Mortenson. The traumatic childhood of Marilyn Monroe is well document being that when she became famous she had no problem with telling her story. Monroe was the daughter of Gladys Monroe Baker Mortensen. Marilyn Monroe’s father has never been positively identified (Hendrickson, 2000). Monroe’s relationship with her mother was rocky and to say the least, lack thereof being that her mother was mentally unstable and eventually became institutionalized. This caused Marilyn to grow up in a succession of foster homes, orphanages, and guardianships, where she suffered abuse. At the age of two she was almost smothered to death. Monroe was also on several occasions sexually assaulted; she later said that she had been raped when she was 11 years old (“Marilyn Monroe Biography”, 2013). Marilyn Monroe’s personality as a child strongly reflected her traumatic upbringing. When she was ten, she would fall into fits of uncontrollable sobbing and despair at the slightest aggravation (Spoto, 1...
When someone speaks of Marilyn Monroe most people think she was nothing other than a woman who slept her way to the top. Of course she had her faults, but there are a variety of traits to describe her rather than just her sexual appeal. Marilyn was an iconic model, singer and actress who passed away too soon from unknown causes. She became a popular, enthusiastic actress and her films produced over 200 million dollars. Although, many people seen her as scandalous, she was more than that, she faced many troubling situations before her rise to the top only to be defeated by a sudden death.
Marilyn Monroe, Norma Jeane Mortenson. A devious soul but a pure heart, a black past, but a bright future; she became one of the most idolized figures in society. Norma was definitely not born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and she never sugar coated her life to the media. She was straight forward which made her heavily known for her quotes such as “I learned to walk as a baby and I haven’t had a lesson since.” (Marilyn Monroe). This was the beginning to her life story as a hero. This may not seem inspiring or heroic to many by the lack of knowledge a person may have on Norma. In the depths of her quotes lay a deep, heartfelt life though. For this quote may seem sensational and comical to the ear, but Marilyn was transferred to many foster homes not really having a parent that would show her the way. What a good role model would do though, and what Norma courageously has shown society, is that when life knocks you down, get up and hit life back twice as hard. Norma Jeane Mortenson, married Jim Dougherty, and started working. Soon she created the character Marilyn Monroe, she dyed her hair blonde, wore short dresses, and she became the momentous and inspirational character that everyone saw through television, newspapers, and photos. She was one of the greatest actors, singers, and models of the nineteen forties and fifties. But like every hero they suffer and create their own demise. Jeane, Marilyn Monroe, is a shakespearean tragic hero, because like every hero she must fall.
The image has a huge effect in society. A celebrity’s image can characterize, shape and circulate societal myths in Hollywood. Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, and model. People think her figure and beauty make her become a popular icon and sex symbol in the 1950s. When people talk about the name of Marilyn Monroe, a blonde beautiful sexy female's image will appear in people's minds. What has the beauty standard shown us through Marilyn Monroe in the mid-20th century? Besides the beauty what other things did she need in order for her to be famous at that time? Marilyn Monroe's status as a sex symbol has influenced many artists since her time, even though the beauty standard has been different since then. If we look at the celebrities today, we can find many imitators of Marilyn Monroe: Madonna, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and even Lady Gaga. They do this not only because of marketing and media needs, but also because people today still “worship” the image Monroe created. A half-century has passed since Marilyn Monroe's death, so why is she still relevant today? As time has passed, Marilyn Monroe's image is becoming even more meaningful and valuable. Think about the image she has created, the main point I want to study is: how does a woman who passed away at thirty-six years old, after starring in only a handful of movies, has such on the impact on women, especially young women, in the 21st century? To find the answer of how she has an impact on young women today will also show how some of the young celebrities today became successful.
Societal standards are always changing and unreachable, always looking for someone to be the ultimate bride and perfect girl. We can see the era of Marylin Monroe, perfect blonde, skinny, sexy, and exciting. But, as times change, Marilyn is no longer in style, instead thrown in the back of the closet and forgotten as society looks for the next golden girl. So, even women like Daisy and the iconic Marylin Monroe, find themselves thrown away once they no longer fit the
Ella Sadowski Ms.Gommermann Honors English 10 23 April 2024 Marilyn Monroe: not just any dumb blonde Marilyn Monroe, often referred to as “the blonde bombshell” by Hollywood, is undoubtedly one of the most iconic blondes in all of American pop culture. Monroe is most widely known for her beauty, charm, and striking blonde hair; but she is so much more than your average “dumb blonde”. Before she was known as Marilyn Monroe, the all-American blonde movie star, she was the brunette, orphaned girl, Norma Jeane Baker. Growing up in Los Angeles, Norma lived a loveless childhood and was in and out of foster homes until she got married at 16. She had a troubled relationship with her abusive mother, who was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and her absent father whom she never
issues and had threatened suicide before (Bell, 2014). However, while she did suffer from many issues, it was said that around this time she was in good spirits. She had been planning for the future and seemed to be looking forward to it.
The Life of Marilyn Monroe From the year 1946 when Marilyn Monroe signed her first film contract, she quickly rose to fame through the movies she played in. By the 1950’s, Monroe had become a household name, gaining popularity for her role in “The Asphalt Jungle” (1950). Monroe’s roles typically had her play the character of a witty and charming “blonde bombshell”, a role which she played well due to her similar personality. Her iconic movies, which stole the hearts of Americans everywhere, led Monroe to be titled Hollywood’s sex symbol. Despite her popularity, Monroe was not treated fairly by both her employers and by regular people.
Marilyn Monroe was the iconic Hollywood star: she encompassed both a childlike innocence, as well as a sensuality and promiscuity that had men and women both checking their blood pressure. However, many people do not know the events leading up to her alleged suicide aside from her appearances on the big screen and in photoshoots. Her childhood and family history led to many of the problems she dealt with in her adult life, which was also far from uneventful. Her outward personality was charismatic and enticing, though she often felt incomplete and miserable. She was both praised and ridiculed for her sexual exploits and other actions, which further confounded her. She detached from her personal reality and instead conformed to what others expected her to be, complying to their desires to receive affection. She kept her distance from people, even those whom she desired to connect with. A short biographical account is required to fully understand her personality development, after which we will apply a couple theories to her personality: Karen Horney’s theory and Erik Erikson’s theory, specifically his psychosocial stages of development.
Marilyn Monroe, a woman whose name was a synonymous for Hollywood beauty, had a bold side to her (“About Marilyn Monroe”). It wasn’t just her looks that just made her popular it was how she stood up for herself in situations. Many decades after her death in 1962, at the age of 36, Marilyn Monroe’s reputation and popularity have not wavered at all. Marilyn Monroe, a beautiful yet confident woman, made a bold statement with her sex appeal and fashion on how women should be confident about their own bodies and not be looked at as just a child bearer.
Marilyn Monroe was a woman who lived and thrived under the spotlight. Monroe has been immortalized in her words; she is quoted at one time saying, “I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I'm out of control, and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best”. An American Icon is someone whose works, life, and message withstand the test of time. In order to understand Marilyn Monroe’s impact as America’s sex symbol one must have an explanation of her background, an overview of her career as an actress, and an analysis of her critic’s reviews.
Marilyn Monroe had a difficult childhood. Born Norma Jean Mortensen on June 1, 1926 to a mentally unstable mother and absent father, she spent her childhood in a series of foster homes and an orphanage. Norma’s father is still unclear. Mother Gladys had married Martin Mortensen in 1924, although they separated in 1925, before her pregnancy with Norma. As Gladys was mentally and financially incapable of caring for Norma, she placed Norma with foster parents. Norma stayed until she was seven, but in 1933 her mother had bought a house and took Norma to live with her. Shortly after that she had a mental crises, Norma became a ward of the state. She was on several occasions sexually assaulted; later said she had been raped at the age of eleven.
At just the shy age of sixteen, Norma Jean, in an attempt to create a home for herself, she married twenty one year old James Daugherty an aircraft plant worker. The marriage ended four years later when Norma Jean found success in modeling. James went into the military, which is when she found the glamour life of modeling. He came home and made her choose between modeling or their marriage. They divorced in 1946. She then became Marilyn Monroe. Her career was built on her beauty, charisma, and most importantly her sex appeal. She began modeling for magazine covers, got small roles in movies, and was Playboy’s first centerfold, all while starting to date the ba...
Throughout American history, there have been many inspirational stories about young adults who have grown from an unstable childhood to a world famous actor or actress. These individuals have the most inspiring stories of how he or she overcame the loss of love from parents, or struggle from a hard life in fostercare to become a world famous icon. The story of Marilyn Monroe embraces this. Marilyn’s life story tells of how she grew from a childhood of lost love from both parents to become one of the biggest sex symbols alive.