At first, I was reluctant to choose this image. Marilyn Monroe is one of the most well known women in history. However, everyone seems to have a misconstrued perception of her and her life. Societies view of Marilyn is completely fabricated and altered. Everyone believes her to be a young independent woman who changed the world with her infamous beauty and talent. This is not actually the case. There is no doubting how gorgeous she is or her trendsetting ways. However, her talent and past has been talked up to be anonymous with the truth.
Here are some real facts before I delve into the complexity of this photograph. You may wonder why I'm including all of this prior to analyzing the photograph. I believe that in order to correctly see where I'm coming from with my interpretation this is a sort of necessity.
Marilyn's real name is Norma Jeane Mortenson. I'd like to let Wikipedia take it away here because this story is not only alarming but merely a glimpse into Marilyn's "unspoken" life: (ps. Gladys was her mother). "Gladys was mentally unstable and financially unable to care for the young Norma Jeane, so she placed her with foster parents Albert and Ida Bolender of Hawthorne, California, where she lived until she was seven. One day, Gladys visited and demanded that the Bolenders return Norma Jeane to her. Ida refused, as she knew Gladys was unstable and the situation would not benefit her young daughter. Gladys pulled Ida into the yard, then quickly ran back to the house and locked herself in. Several minutes later, she walked out with one of Albert Bolender's military duffel bags. To Ida's horror, Gladys had stuffed a screaming Norma Jeane into the bag, zipped it up, and was carrying it right out with her. Ida charged toward her, and their struggle split the bag apart, dumping out Norma Jeane, who wept loudly as Ida grabbed her and pulled her back inside the house, away from Gladys.[19] In 1933, Gladys bought a house and brought Norma Jeane to live with her. A few months later, Gladys began a series of mental episodes that would plague her for the rest of her life. In My Story, Monroe recalls her mother "screaming and laughing" as she was forcibly removed to the State Hospital in Norwalk."
Marilyn suffered a very troubling childhood. Her father and mother separated before she was born and she, herself, never accurately knew who her father was, seeing as she was the third of Gladys children from different fathers. At the age of 11, she was sent to live with her Mother's best friend and her husband. Her husband had attempted to sexually assault Nora and this was the end of that living arrangement. Throughout her life, she dealt with severe stress and anxiety due to self esteem issues and lack of confidence. She went through a roller coaster of not being able to find a job and being on one successful movie titles. This was sure to do a bit to her emotional stability. She was forced into shooting nude to gain PR but was only paid once for this. Fast forward into the end, Marilyn was found dead in her home by her psychiatrist because of barbiturate poisoning. These are anti-convulsants and hypnotic drugs that are typically used for surgery's. However, have been used many times by celebrities who then passed away from overdose
All in all, Marilyn did not live a typical glamorous life. All people seem to really see are her infamous hair and red lipstick. Not to mention her quotes about being yourself no matter what anyone thinks. This photograph completely reflects the idea that Marilyn was internally struggling. Her eyes look distressed and it seems like there's a deep hurt there. It's easy to misunderstand this photograph and her life by her poses. She's posing in a manner that many people would describe to be "damsel in distress" like. On the other side, she truly does look strong and independent. The photograph adequately represents that in the fact that shes alone, in the middle of no where, in a vehicle. But she looks completely poise, still and confident. The black and white also adds an element of mystery. And I feel like that is the entity of Marilyn Monroe, mystery. Her life ended short at a young age of 36. There are many things we don't know about her and I feel that that adds to her complexity and demeanor.
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