Reputation of Marilyn Monroe - Essay Example

Marilyn Monroe “A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.” – Joseph Hall. This quotation is the crux of what this whole paper is about. Joseph Hall very aptly depicts that the formation of reputation of a person is not an uncomplicated and elementary process; instead it takes years and decades to build up an image or a reputation. Furthermore, the most major contribution in shaping of reputation is the issues involved in the life of that certain person or myths affiliated with him or her. Surprisingly, the time needed to ruin a reputation is not even one-third of what it takes to build it up. Hence, we are going to provide a study on one of the diva of Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe, and will see how issues in historical context and myth(s) contributed in construction of her reputation. Marilyn Monroe, born as Norma Jeane Mortenson on1st June, 1926, was an American actress, singer and model who became a paramount sex symbol. However, her fame was short lived as she expired on August 5, 1962 at the age of 36 as a result of Barbiturate overdose, claimed as a suicidal attempt or, as some rumors says, homicide. In a short spam of 36 years, Monroe gained considerable amount as an actor and a human being. She gave Hollywood quite a number of successful flicks such as Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, River of No Return, Seven Year Itch, Some Like it Hot and The Misfits. Howbeit, her ending years did not went smooth because of illness, personal problems and image of being erratic and strenuous to work with. The hitch in Monroe’s life started as soon as her mother, Gladys, placed her in a foster home, as she was unable to support both of them as a result of financial crisis and mental instability. A rapid succession of foster place and having no semblance of normal and stable life, Monroe got involved in to ventures that were way more mature for her tender age. The absence of father and mother made her wish for a normal life, which she was unsuccessful in attaining. Similarly, three marriages, starting with the age of sixteen, and their failure prompted her in a relationship with drugs and medicine (Taraborrelli, 2009). Where entrance in to Hollywood, secured her as one of the greatest actress in the history, her problems, depression and emotional instability had went up a notch. The first thing that started building up her reputation and the image was of a goddess and sex symbol. This particular image of her was a result of her insecurities that she would not emerge as a successful actress. For instance, she appeared naked in the swimming pool while shooting the film Something’s Got to Give to remove the actress Liz Taylor as the magazine’s face. It is a widely acclaimed knowledge that Monroe was undoubtedly a beautiful actress and her provocation and explicit roles awarded her with the status of sex symbol (Guiles, 1991). The first issue that contributed it formation of her history was the affair with the President of United State, John. F. Kennedy, who was married to Jackie at that time. As the studies illustrate, Monroe was very much in love with the president and wanted to marry him, however, Monroe was just another addition in the number of flings he had and was not intending to fulfill Monroe wish of getting married as he stated “You’re not really First Lady material, anyway, Marilyn”. Furthermore, she was also claimed to have an affair with the President’s brother, Robert Kennedy. The second issue that played crucial role in building up the historical context for Monroe was her heavy dosage of drugs and medication. This issue was a sequel to the John. F. Kennedy affair. Although, her habit of taking medicine was formed way before her affair with the President, but it escalated after the break up. To control the sting of rejection and emotional instability, she started heavily relying on prescriptions, drugs and alcohol. This was also promoted out of the fear that she would turn out just like her mother and had inherited her mother’s paranoid schizophrenia and stated that she often heard voiced or was being followed (Shevey, Sandra and Monroe, 1987). The historical interpretation of the issues affected construction of Monroe’s reputation positively, in my opinion. Her explicit method to make a place in the industry, even though she was regarded as one of the most beautiful and sexy actress of the industry made the media see her as a witty, strong and a headstrong person. Furthermore, her affair with the Kennedy’s brother also helped in promoting her image as the blond bombshell. However, her involvement with drugs and alcohol had not a good impact on her reputation, as many claimed her as druggie and desperate (Guiles, 1991). Her reputation as a blond bombshell, talented and sexy hardly took a hit as a result of her issues. Instead it aroused the feeling of sympathy and interest within her fans and people around her. By the time of Marilyn death, almost everyone was aware of her instable childhood and background and knew that she was a victim of sexual attacks by her foster family, which altered her mind set and prompted fear of rejection and increased wariness in her. Nonetheless, affair with the president, addiction of drugs and medicine along with her inability to work properly and with concentration at the end of her time, caused increase in her popularity and making her the odd one out (Taraborrelli, 2009). Reputation of any person, be it ordinary or famous, is build using the historical evidences and the issue involved in those evidences can be real or manipulated. For instance, the involvement with president framed Marilyn as a possessive and immature person and depicted that the affair was her ‘fault’, but if one look closely, it is said the Kennedy had many flings in which Monroe was just an addition, so when the affair ended she was the victim party who had been wronged and not the other way round. Thus, this termination of the relationship made her an addict of alcohol, drugs and medicine, which proved fatal for her. Hence, her reputation based merely on the view of historical evidences, which are usually manipulated and distorted cannot judge or become basis for formation of anyone’s reputation, let alone the famous people who are doomed to be criticized and labeled as ‘wrong’ (Barris, 2012). Although, myths about Marilyn had never been explicitly stated by media or press, there are research and studies that implies that she had worked in porn movies; this accommodated her reputation of being a sex symbol and beauty goddess. Furthermore, another myth went about Monroe was that the character of Tinker bell was based on her; however actress Margret Kerry was the true inspirational for the character. Though, this myth was woven as a result of her reputation and image of being beautiful and feminine. Another myth claimed in relation to the actress was that she was murdered, rather than a suicide attempt; however her addiction to drugs and alcohol is not able to accommodate this specific myth (Arnold, 2012). The myths regarding the actress and historical view are in some places very complimentary and in some places, downright contradictory. For instance, her myths are actually based on her reputation and image. An example of this is that since, she was illustrated as blond bombshell, sexy and goddess, hence myth of character of Tinker bell based on Monroe took place. Similarly, her working in porn movie is extracted from her reputation of being sex symbol and her works, where she has appeared nude and frivolous. In addition to this, her myths are just wild imagination of people based on her being an actress, and top of that a successful one. However, historical views about her have been displayed on the basis of evidence in form of colleagues, friend, husbands and people close to her. All in all, it can be formed that reputation of Marilyn Monroe is built after many occurrence of different and various events and emerging of numerous issues that took decades. Similarly, these build up of the actress reputation and image was a repercussion of myths and events concerning her and these myths and issues were a result of her childhood life, instability she faced in her early life and constant rejection from people she loved the most. Work Cited Shevey, Sandra and Marilyn Monroe. The Marilyn scandal: her true life revealed by those who knew her. Sidgwick & Jackson. (1987). Guiles, Fred Lawrence. Legend: The life and death of Marilyn Monroe. Scarborough House. (1991). Barris, George. Marilyn: Her Life in Her Own Words: Marilyn Monroes Revealing Last Words and Photographs. Citadel Press. (2012). Taraborrelli, J Randy. The Secret Life Of Marilyn Monroe. Sidgwick & Jackson. (2009). Meyers, Jeffrey. The genius and the goddess: Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe. University of Illinois Press. (2012). Arnold, Ben. Marilyn Monroe myths debunked. (2012). uk.movies.yahoo.com Read More