‘’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.” Marilyn Manroe, perhaps the most iconic woman of the twentieth century. Due to the suffering she experienced mostly as a child bouncing in and out of foster homes she desperately searched for attention and affection. A part of what she was missing was compensated by the love and admiration her fans showered her with and what she claims made her the star that she was. Her combination of beauty, sexiness, intelligence and vulnerability is what made her legendary, who continues to inspire many till this day, however that is not all that she was.
Marilyn was famous for acting, modeling, singing, etc. She certainly had the whole package. However the entire world was mesmerized by her because of her sexuality and charm. She posed nude for a calendar shot and appeared on the first issue of playboy. The promotion of those photos made Monroe a very popular star. Her fame enlarged when she won a golden globe for her performance in the movie “Some like it hot”. And what launched her as a sex symbol was her appearance in big roles like” gentlemen prefer blondes” and “how to marry a millionaire”. Her dumb character was used for comedic purposes in films; however she was not dumb at all. In fact people recall her being a perspicacious and shrewd business woman who took her craft very seriously. Unlike other contemporary celebrities she was not afraid to take risks. She was smart enough to strike a balance between satisfying her appetite without disappointing the public especially her fans.
Trying to preserve an impeccable stain free reputation can be quite the challenge especially with factors that interfere with the process of verifying the soundness of this reputation. Marilyn was notorious for being a major sex symbol however she was ambivalent about being one. Fox changed her name to Marilyn Monroe an alternative sexy sounding name that would be more appealing to the audience. She was aware of Hollywood’s intentions, and the identity they were trying to impose. She might not have become this major sex symbol if the media hadn’t brought it out of her, by focusing on her physical assets and sex appeal on the account of the other qualities she possessed. She worked on perfecting the character created for her because it had the potential to sell. Opponents /co-worker’s opinions about Marilyn may color our perceptions. Few described her as problematic who frustrated her co-workers and was difficult to work with while others disagreed. The Different points of views strongly indicate that we can never know what Monroe was actually like. Each person presents the past in the way they want us to see it. The manipulation of the facts may cloud our outlook on her. Not all sources are reliable. It is uncertain who the real Marilyn was and what kind of reputation she truly had.
It is of human nature to be attracted to certain specifications that arouse our interest and raise our curiosity. Marilyn‘s bewitching beauty and body intrigued the public most of all. People back then were not familiar with this sort of sexiness; Marilyn had something new and different to offer. Men loved her sexiness and they appreciated it which is why they were drawn to her .Women on the other hand appreciated how vulnerable she was. It cannot be denied that the blond bombshell of the fifties had supreme acting skills and vocal abilities but her sexiness is what the public was mainly fascinated by. It made her career take off. She was unique, she aspired to be different and she succeeded in doing so.
People who are born in a specific time are expected to live by its standards, and every time period is characterized by its own culture and set of social morals. Back in the twentieth century the women were required to wear long full skirts and knee length dresses. They were expected to be sophisticated and ladylike. However the country’s view on women’s sexuality changed when Marilyn shamelessly appeared naked on a calendar. It stirred a commotion because exposing the body was unacceptable but oddly enough they found it inspirational and refreshing. It was controversial, but Monroe managed to show the world that you could reveal some of the body without being slutty and how to maintain elegance while doing so. In the 21st century nudity is highly required to grab the attention of the audience. If we were reading about Marilyn back then we wouldn’t have tolerated the idea of her nudity but as readers of modern times we depict it as a normal and demanded act. In fact we look back at Monroe as a rather decent woman.
The type of source materials and evidence we have nowadays must be carefully used. Their misinterpretation may lead to the creation of false assumptions. Marilyn Monroe glowed on screen but away from the limelight her life was engulfed in darkness. Marilyn was unhappy, she felt like there wasn’t anyone who understood her or who was interested in her as a person not her body. She was always in the spotlight but for the wrong reasons. She hated being mobbed by reports that would bombard her with questions. Although she was showcased as a ditsy blonde however that wasn’t who she truly was, she had a serious side and was not afraid to use it. She wanted to be noted for her talent and her true identity but unfortunately the media continued to highlight the interesting parts to them. How can we trust what we know about Marilyn? Are we sure of who she truly was, or did the sources succeed in portraying Marilyn the way they intended? Did Marilyn surrender to the public’s desire and hide her true self from the world? For further notice Marilyn used to play the piano and yet no one seemed to shed light on that aspect.

Because of how much the public idolized the legendary Marilyn Monroe, they held her to impossible standards. And what lived on till this day is the mythology of hearsay. They have created this myth about her being a mortal beauty goddess in which all beauty principles must be applicable to her. For instance Marilyn was not even close to a size 12- 16 she was a bit fat yet the people still adored her body. When Monroe flew to New York to sing happy birthday to President Kennedy, who was considered royalty to the people, she sang it in the most sensual way her seductive performance started rumors that the two were having an affair. The association of two prominent people such as JFK and MM was overpowering. To what extent are we sure about the nature of that relationship? We are so obsessed by the people that we love we chose to enlarge them in any way possible. Such myths enlarged her popularity, making Monroe an unforgettable figure.

Marilyn is a person who fought to be the truest version of her and who was terrified to be who she really was. She said “sometimes it's difficult to remember who we really are”. She shared only one side of her with the world and intentionally besieged herself with an audience that saw the best parts of that side, the same side the media advertised. She would show up late on set and spend hours in her dressing room feeling inadequate and lacking the potential the role demanded. She fluctuated between being confident and insecure. There were two Marilyn Monroe’s. One who was lost, confused and desperate because her adoring public wouldn’t let her be anything but a manufactured version of herself, and there was the seemingly happy and enchanting Monroe. The truth is Marilyn also refused to let herself be anything but the artificial Marilyn so that she won’t lose the only kind of love she received. It is heartbreaking that she wrestled with two halves of her and was incapable of unifying them into a whole and find inward peace within her.
Fifty years after her death and we still obsess over Marilyn who is still an enigma to people that desperately want to know who she really was. And yet Marilyn pleaded in her diaries, "Please don't talk about me when I'm gone." But we still do. That’s the kind of respect she asked for but never had. She gave and gave, but no one appreciated it enough to at least owe that human being the fulfillment of her final request. She lived her life like a candle in the wind as Elton john would say. Hollywood created a superstar but pain was the price she paid. See her the way she wanted to be seen not the way you want to see her. Her life was as mysterious as her death but we will continue to admire her anyway.

Referencing: http://www.cemeteryguide.com/monroe.html http://badassdigest.com/2013/06/19/love-marilyn-beyond-the-marilyn-monroe-myth-in-her-own-words/
Marilyn quotes http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/marilyn_monroe.html
Elton john’s poem http://www.eltonography.com/songs/candle_in_the_wind.html
Facts about women in the American culture during the twentieth century http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decades.html
Some opinions from People who knew her recall the real person like Mitzi Gaynor