The Death of Marilyn Monroe “The Death of Marilyn Monroe” by Scottish poet Edwin Morgan is heavily focused on the devastating suicide of 1950’s Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe. The poem [refer to task] and makes an important statement on how the media and general public treated Monroe. Morgan explores the themes of innocence and solitude through several instances of cleverly used ambiguity, imagery and word choice. Immediately Morgan sets out to evoke sympathy as he describes Monroe’s childhood. The phrase “crumpled orphan” gives the image of a damaged, broken child. Children are vulnerable and need to be taught right from wrong. Monroe was abandoned as an infant and to imagine her being scrunched up and thrown away like a piece of trash makes …show more content…
Since having no real parents Monroe became the “child of America”. She acted as the perfect example of the American Dream: starting from nothing but working hard to achieve her goals. Monroe’s rags to riches tale is what pivoted her career and made her so interesting. It entertained the public but did not make them respect her. She took this newfound attention and treated it as the love she never received growing up. She let herself be vulnerable and ended up being horrifically abused. [refer to task]. The moment she was ‘adopted’ she was doomed. Morgan then begins to dive into the depths of her desolation. The reader is made aware of how lonely she felt with the use of personification: “that Death should seem the only protector” Monroe was so alone that even death would’ve been welcomed with open arms. This technique is the epitome of loneliness and even has a sense of irony in that she would only find peace on dying. Morgan’s aim to make the reader realise how awful it must’ve been for her if the only security she could receive was from her own demise. [refer to task] We are also faced with the concept of Monroe only being valued for her sex icon status. Morgan creates a list of ways she was dehumanised: “the many acquaintances, the autograph hunters, the inflexible directors, the drive-in
Some Like It Hot, Gentleman Prefer Blondes, and The Seven Year Itch are just a few of the movies that the actress Marilyn Monroe is known for. However the life of the movie star was cut short when she died at age 36 from an acute barbiturate poisoning. It was suspected that Marilyn took her own life, however she could have just as easily been taken out by the Kennedy family to prevent her from spilling all the dirty secrets she knew because of her alleged affairs with John and Robert Kennedy. Monroe was murdered by the Kennedy family in order to keep her from revealing government secrets that she gained knowledge of during the affairs she has with John and Robert Kennedy, which she threatened to make public after both
They did not challenge gender norms or ideals. Nor did they aim to usurp the position of the man. Rather, they supported the overarching mentality that women were to be submissive, strive to fulfill the needs and wants of men, and aim to please their male counterparts. (Kallen) Importantly, none of these women or representations of women exhibited any physical attributes that the dominant culture would view as masculine. Instead, they all displayed quintessential feminine characteristics and traits. Moreover, they were not valued for their brains or accomplishments; they were judged solely based on the degree to which they conformed to the male-dictated status quo. Marilyn Monroe and other sex icons of the 1950s were portrayed as dim-witted, naïve, childlike, and vulnerable, which was the polar opposite of society’s picture of the strong, smart, witty, and brave male. There was nothing about these women that challenged male superiority or threatened the overarching worldview that it was a ‘man’s world’ and women’s purpose was to make this world more enjoyable for the men who ruled it. (Meyerowitz
There are many clues to lead to the fact she took her own life. I found it interesting Bobbie Ann Mason gave the character the name Norma Jean. Norma Jean was also the real name of Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe’s depression and inability to find lasting happiness resulted in psychological disorders with the end result of her taking her own life.
Shortly after Norma turned nine, she was adopted by her mother’s best friend, Grace McKee. She lived with Grace for six months. During those six months, Norma helped Grace prepare for her upcoming wedding to Ervin Goddard. Once Grace wed Ervin, Norma was sent to live with her great aunt, Olive Brunings. Shortly after living with Olive, Norma was sexually assaulted by Olive’s son. This was the starting point which would lead Norma down a winding path filled with substance abuse (Marilyn Monroe Biography 2).
The death of Marilyn Monroe is one of the most famous, unsolved murders of all time. Her death certificate claims that on the night of August 4th, 1962 Marilyn Monroe killed herself from a drug overdose in her home in Los Angeles, California. Although some might say that the drug overdose is the only possible reason of her passing, other might say that theories such as the CIA killed Marilyn Monroe makes more sense. For example, Marilyn Monroe was allegedly having an affair with both John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy. The most common theory supports the idea that “the Kennedys killed her (or had her killed) because they feared she would make public their love affairs and other government secrets she was gathering” (History.com
... her true feelings with her sister, or talking to her husband or reaching out to other sources of help to address her marital repressed life, she would not have to dread living with her husband. “It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long” (Chopin 262). Her meaning for life would not have to mean death to her husband. In conclusion, her lack of self assertion, courage and strong will to address her repressed life made her look at life and death in a different perspective. When in fact there is no need to die to experience liberation while she could have lived a full life to experience it with her husband by her side.
Marilyn Monroe (Monroe) was an image of fashion and beauty in the 20th century. Overcoming a traumatic childhood to become one of the most confident women. Making bold provocative, but, fashionable statements about how women should be confident about their own body image. Without the help of others, she would not have become the person she is known as today. Marilyn Monroe, a famous actress, who has influenced the rest of the world.
Marilyn Monroe is an icon that is idolized by many and had a great impact on pop culture. She didn’t have the best childhood and had a lot of up and downs in her life. Marilyn Monroe was born in California in 1926. She was named Norma Jeane Mortenson after a popular actress at the time. Her mother Gladys Baker was mentally ill, so she had to put Monroe in foster care. She lived in a foster home until she was seven years old. She had two other siblings from her mother’s first marriage. She never met them because her mom’s first husband took them to live with him in Kentucky.
Maslow’s Psychoanalytical perspective can be used to give an understanding of this part of Marilyn Monroe’s life. Maslow’s theory was developed and based on hierarchy of needs. Maslow wanted to know and understand what motivated people. His belief was that individuals are motivated to achieve certain needs (Feist & Feist, 2009). According to Maslow, Marilyn Monroe had some loving, belongingness needs and safety needs. Maslow believed that when people had their needs for love and belongingness in early years, they do not panic or feel devastated when they are rejected or denied of love. Whereas people who experienced love and belongingness in small doses, have stronger needs for affection and acceptance (Feist & Feist, 2009). This can be app...
Marilyn Monroe was liked by many, society liked her for the sheer fact that she never portrayed herself as famous, but as a human. She was the epiphany of Hollywoods misguided. She created this noble character that people admired, they also admired her f...
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.
Specific Stages of Erik Erickson’s Stage Theory greatly exemplify the deeply confused individual of Marilyn Monroe. The most predominant features of Marilyn Monroe’s personality can be explained by Erikson’s psychosocial stages of “Identity versus Role Confusion”, “Intimacy versus Isolation”, and “Generativity versus Stagnation” (Howard & Shustack, 2009, p. 134-139). During Marilyn Monroe’s most critical period of her life, childhood, she was neither exposed to a stable mother and father figure, nor a balanced environment. Those who did love her did not remain for long enough periods to have a substantial effect on Marilyn’s life. The closest mother-type present in her life, Grace McKee, did not possess the resources needed to raise a child and thus had to withdraw as permanent stature in Marilyn’s life (Learning, 1998, p. 64-76). Aside from Grace, Marilyn also never experienced the protection and love of a father figure, or arbitrary male in her life.
Through metaphors, the speaker proclaims of her longing to be one with the sea. As she notices The mermaids in the basement,(3) and frigates- in the upper floor,(5) it seems as though she is associating these particular daydreams with her house. She becomes entranced with these spectacles and starts to contemplate suicide.
In lines three and four the paramedics try to “close the mouth” and “close the eyes,” in line five they “tied the arms” to her side. Only after the paramedics touch a strand of her platinum tress that was accidentally caught on the stretcher (6-7) does Olds switch away from “the” to a more human reference of “her” when referring to Marilyn. With this word choice, the reader is able to sense the change in the paramedics perspectives as the supernatural goddess Marilyn Monroe transforms into a mere human on the stretcher. Olds continues to depict the transition as she flattens the iconic hour glass figure of Marylin beneath the sheet that covers her dead body (7-8). As the paramedics begin to carry her out of the house, they abruptly remember who it is that they are carrying; they seem to appreciate the significance of the moment, therefore carry her with the reverence due a queen (9).
As Minnie is in the process of discovering herself, Monroe both helps her in her pursuit for autonomy, as well as pose as an obstacle to her. It is worth noting the significance of the setting of the book. 1970’s San Francisco is a liberating place to be living.