Name Marilyn Monroe example essay topic

Marilyn Monroe personified Hollywood glamour with an unparalleled glow and energy that enamored the world. Though an alluring beauty with voluptuous curves and a generous pout, Marilyn Monroe was more than a 50's sex goddess. Her apparent vulnerability and innocence in combination with an innate sensuality has endeared her to the global consciousness for more than half a century. Marilyn's life demonstrated the effects of her personal struggles as well as the triumph of her spirit, a part of her that continues to survive alongside her image as the legendary Hollywood diva. Born as Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles General Hospital, her mother, Gladys, listed the father's address as unknown and Marilyn grew up without a real fatherly figure in her life.

"All I really wanted from him was to let me call him my father... oh, how I wished I had a dad... ". (Barr is 6). She was placed in the foster home of Albert and Ida Blender. It was here she lived the first 7 years of her life.

"They were terribly strict... they didn't mean any harm... it was their religion. They brought me up harshly". (Monroe 1). In 1933, Norma Jeane lived briefly with her mother, but Gladys begin to show signs of mental depression and in 1934 was admitted to a rest home in Santa Monica, California. Grace McKee, a close friend of her mother, took over the care of Marilyn. Until Grace, no one had ever given her compliments, and all she longed for was to feel special.

"No one ever told me I was pretty when I was a little girl. All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren't". (Monroe 1). To reassure Marilyn of her uniqueness, she would tell her "Don't worry, Norma Jeane.

You " re going to be a beautiful girl when you get big... an important woman, a movie star". (McKee 1). Grace was captivated by Jean Harlow, a superstar of the twenties, and Marilyn would later say... ". and so Jean Harlow was my idol". (Monroe 1).

In 1935, Marilyn was hit with another burden when Grace was to be married; she was placed in an orphanage because of financial difficulties (September, 1935 to June, 1937). Marilyn had hit a low point in her life, "The world around me then was kind of grim. I had to learn to pretend in order to... I don't know... block the grimness. The whole world seemed sort of closed to me... I felt on the outside of everything, and all I could do was to dream up any kind of pretend-game".

(Monroe 1). Although struggling with hardship, Marilyn was given an opportunity to make her name known as she had dreamed; she was photographed at work by Andre de Dines, a journalist, as part of an Army promotion demonstrating women's contributions to the war effort. The photographer asked to take more pictures of her, and soon she had launched a modeling career. Her glowing beauty had made her immensely popular, and she graced the covers of 33 major magazines. By 1946, she had quit her job at an aircraft plant and was working as a full-time model while pursuing a career in film. Marilyn soon realized she was made to be in the spotlight.

"I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else... I'm going to be a great movie star someday". (Monroe 1). Marilyn strived to be successful in her life; she never wanted to give up on something she longed to do.

"My illusions didn't have anything to do with being a fine actress, I knew how third rate I was. I could actually feel my lack of talent, as if it were cheap clothes I was wearing inside. But, my God, how I wanted to learn, to change, to improve!" (Monroe 1). On July 23, 1946, Marilyn made the next big step in her career; she signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox, which entitled her to $125 a week. Soon after signing with Fox, she began using the name 'Marilyn Monroe. ' The last name was her grandmother's and the first name was copied from the actress Marilyn Miller.

Marilyn's first role was a small part in the 1947 film The Shocking Miss Pilgrim. She continued to play inconsequential characters until 1950 when John Huston's thriller Asphalt Jungle provided her with a small, but influential, role. Her performance in the film All About Eve later the same year earned her even greater notoriety. Although many admired her, Marilyn wasn't like the stereotypical rich, movie star; she wanted to remain true to the person she was made to be.

"I want to grow old without facelifts... I want to have the courage to be loyal to the face I've made. Sometimes I think it would be easier to avoid old age, to die young, but then you'd never complete your life, would you? You'd never wholly know yourself".

(Monroe 1). Many well-known people in Hollywood thought highly of Marilyn's character and integrity. Clark Gable spoke for a lot of men saying, "Marilyn is a kind of ultimate. She is uniquely feminine. Everything she does is different, strange, and exciting from the way she talks to the way she uses the magnificent torso. She makes a man proud to be a man".

(Gable 1). Darryl Zanuck, president of 20th Century Fox, credited Marilyn with finding her own success. "Nobody discovered her, she earned her own way to stardom". (Zanuck 1). Bert Stern, a photographer in Hollywood, loved to take pictures of Marilyn. "She was beautiful and untouched, it was as though she were just beginning".

(Stern 1). It became apparent that Marilyn was a sought-after idol for people around the world. Marilyn's name became known in all parts of the country and her appeal to people became even more evident; in 1962, Golden Globe named Monroe "World's Most Popular Star" for her widespread appeal. Marilyn starred in 30 movies from 1947 to 1962, but left the film "Something's Got to Give", unfinished.

She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the remake film "Hamlet"; she played the part of Gertrude. In the essay "All the Available Light: A Marilyn Monroe Reader", a novelist writes "Long to lose control and be seduced by a voluptuous and gloriously airy goddess, pillowy-soft and squishy, vulnerable and innocent, yet bursting with female magnetism who will dominate them and initiate them into the mysteries of sex". (Gates 56). Although aware of her success, Marilyn was quite critical of her own performances. At times, her low self-esteem would cripple her innate talents, manifesting itself as sickness or depression and adding to the industry perception that she was hard to work with. As Arthur Miller, a popular American playwright, would say, .".. some part of her is always put to shame by the distance between what she achieves and the goal she has set out for herself".

(Miller 2). While trying to balance her profession and personal relationships, Marilyn found that her career left her little room for a strong, dedicated love life-however, she still gave it some effort. She went through 3 marriages, each following a divorce: James Dougherty in 1942, Joe DiMaggio in 1954, and Arthur Miller in 1956. DiMaggio was quoted saying "It's no fun being married to an electric light". (DiMaggio 1). After undergoing 3 divorces and having a tough time with any relationship, Marilyn went on Prozac and swore off men in 1965.

Having been raised in foster homes, she was quite concerned with maintaining a solid family, and although she desperately wanted children, Marilyn never had any; she suffered through three miscarriages. After this tragedy, she took some time off to recuperate before beginning her next picture, "Some like it hot". Although it seemed to many that she had recovered from her struggles, tragically, Marilyn's life came to a short end; she was found dead in her room as a result of a drug overdose on August 5th, 1962-she was only 36 years old. Monroe's death may have been an accident, but it is widely accepted that it was a suicide, resulting from her constant depression and lack of self-esteem. Some say it was her stressful Hollywood lifestyle that pushed her strength and fortitude over her limit. Although her life ended unfortunately short, Marilyn Monroe wasn't remembered for her untimely death, but for all her great accomplishments.

She was more than just a movie star or glamour queen. A global sensation in her lifetime, Marilyn's popularity has extended beyond star status to icon. Today, the name "Marilyn Monroe" is synonymous with beauty and glamour. Marilyn will remain an inspiration to all who strive to overcome personal obstacles for the goal of achieving greatness.