Marilyn Monroe example essay topic

"At 7: 30 a.m. on the morning of June 1, 1926 a young unwed mother named Gladys Monroe entered charity ward of the Los Angeles General Hospital. Two hours later she gave birth to a little girl Norma Jeane Mortenson. The father was listed as Edward Mortenson, a baker residing somewhere in California. Gladys took her baby home, and began a struggle to raise her daughter". (Brandon, pg. 1) Unfortunately, Gladys had a history of mental instability and after only twelve days with her daughter she decided it would be best to leave Norma Jeane in foster care. For the next sixteen years Norma Jeane bounced back and forth from foster home to a friend of her mother's home.

Shortly after Norma Jeane turned sixteen she wed Jim Dougherty who one year later joined the Merchant Marines and was sent overseas. While Jim was overseas Norma Jeane caught the eye of a photographer and soon was featured on thirty-three covers of national magazines. Norma Jeane eventually divorced Jim and signed a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox Studios who encouraged her to change her name, to Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn had a lot of controversy surrounding her life, but none as great as her death. +I am going to discuss the mysterious demise of the sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. I am going discuss the countdown to her death, the alleged involvement of a third party, and finally the inconclusive evidence collected at the crime scene as well as at the autopsy.

Early in 1960, Marilyn was consulting with Dr. Ralph Greenson, a prominent psychoanalyst. As was common during this period, he relied heavily on drug therapy, prescribing 300 milligrams of barbiturates and tranquilizers in addition to his almost daily therapy sessions with Marilyn. Dr. Greenson later lessened her dosage to enable her to begin filming a new movie. "Marilyn Monroe started shooting the film comedy Something's Got to Give for Twentieth Century Fox in April of 1962.

This was 15 months after her divorce to third husband / screenwriter, Arthur Miller, and only 14 months after she had been treated for addiction to barbiturates and alcohol. But the actress's respiratory infections and chronic stage fright delayed shooting of her last movie from the start. Then on May 19, as Monroe traveled to New York city-despite a high fever and threats from Fox that she could be fired for any more absences-to sing "Happy Birthday" at a Democratic fund-raising tribute to President John F. Kennedy". ("Countdown to Tragedy" pg. 1) It was rumored that Marilyn had been having affairs with both President John F. Kennedy, and Attorney General Bobby Kennedy. White House logs show numerous calls between President Kennedy and Ms. Monroe prior to May 1962. However after her infamous performance, logs revealed that all phone access had been terminated.

Depressed and in a haze of booze and drugs Marilyn was frequently late, or a no-show on the set of Something's Got to Give. In June 1962 Marilyn was subsequently fired by Fox, and later sued to recoup money spent. "The gossip continued for years that she was intimate with both Kennedy men and that they were involved in her death. She possessed handwritten notes from Bobby and had kept a diary.

She was privy to numerous secrets about the Kennedy's and their underworld connections. Moreover, she was unstable and might talk at any time. A world-famed celebrity the actress had the power to do incalculable damage to the Kennedy image". (Rodden, pg. 3) Coincidently on the last day of Marilyn's life, Aug. 4, 1962, witnesses identified that Bobby Kennedy was indeed at Marilyn's home sometime that afternoon. "Hollywood detective Fred O tash claims that, "Marilyn and Bobby had a violent argument and she told him that she felt used and passed around". At the end of the argument Marilyn ordered Bobby out of her house".

("The Day Marilyn Died" pg. 1) It was alleged that after the argument Marilyn summoned her psychiatrist, Dr. Greenson for a ninety minute session. Speculators also believe that this session was likely to involve an injection of barbiturates, similar to the ones Marilyn had previously received by her internist, Dr. Engle berg, on the afternoon before. "Marilyn later spent time talking to her stepson Joe DiMaggio Jr., and her friend Jeanne Carmen, among others-none of whom believed she was depressed or on drugs". ("The Day Marilyn Died" pg. 1) Marilyn was found dead in the nude by her housekeeper early on the morning of August 5, 1962.

The stories that are told of what happened make little sense to anyone. There was an unexplainable period of three hours between her body being found, and when the police were called. Some speculate that Bobby Kennedy had arranged her murder not only to cover up their relationship, but to keep her from revealing other information that may have potentially embarrassed the Kennedy family. Others speculate that Dr. Greenson was involved in Marilyn's death. "This theory put forth in Peter Lawford: The Man Who Kept the Secrets, written by James Hall, who claims to have been the ambulance driver called to the scene following the discovery of Monroe's body.

As Hall puts it, "Just as Marilyn started coming around, the doctor arrived... I believe it was Dr Greenson (Marilyn's shrink). He... pushed her breast to one side and gave her an injection". ("The Day Marilyn Died" pg. 2) The evidence collected at the crime scene, and later during the autopsy was considered to be conflicting, as well as inconclusive. A limited toxicology report concluded that Marilyn's death was due to a massive overdose of barbiturates. A full examination and toxicology report of Marilyn's organs had been ordered by the coroner, and would have revealed how the barbiturates had entered Marilyn's system.

Mysteriously all the specimens that were extracted during the autopsy disappeared. "In the entire history of the L.A. County coroner's office there had never been a previous instance of organ samples vanishing". ("Toxicology Report" pg. 1) The official death certificate listed that cause of death was "suicide" with the word "probable" written beside it. The first police officer to arrive on the scene recounts what he saw; "Marilyn was lying face down in what I call the soldier's position. Her hands were by her side and her legs were stretched out perfectly straight. It was the most obviously staged death scene I have ever seen.

The pill bottles on the bedside table had been arranged in neat order and the body deliberately positioned, it all looked too tidy". (Clemmons, August 5, 1962) One can only continue to speculate about the exact cause of Marilyn's death. With so many questions left unanswered, and so many conflicting accounts of what really happened, the truth will likely remain entombed with Marilyn. "As with all legends, however, the image left by Monroe's death is as much fable as truth: A voluptuous starlet found sprawled nude across silk sheets with an empty barbiturate bottle on her nightstand". (Spoto, pg. 1) One can conclude that even forty-one years after Marilyn's reign, we have come no closer to solving the enigma of her demise.

Bibliography

Page Brandon, H. "Marilyn Monroe: The Legend" web 1996 web Clemmons, Jack "The Day Marilyn Died" web August 1993 web "Countdown To Tragedy" web August 1993 web "The Day Marilyn Died" web August 1993 web Rodden, Lois "Marilyn Monroe" web April 2003 web Spoto, Donald "Marilyn Monroe 1926-1962" web 1997 web "Toxicology Report" web 2003 web.