Marilyn Monroe
Patty Ramirez
Mr. Wear
AP Lang/Comp
12 June 2010
Period 5
Tragedy of a Star Celebrities are swarmed by the media on a daily basis, and most of the time, are not able to lead normal lives. The media waits for some huge story to leak out through the observation of celebrities. However, paparazzi cannot be around them twenty four hours a day; in the moments they are not around, unknown events occur that ultimately can lead to tragedies. Such tragedies, like assassinations and suicides, become subject to controversy and speculation. For example, Marilyn Monroe’s mysterious death has been analyzed for over 40 years and is still seen as an unsolved puzzle. Marilyn Monroe’s life was cut short on August 4, 1962 due to a drug overdose; her death certificate stated probable suicide; however, forensic pathologist Dr. Thomas Noguchi stated that it was a murder (Bell). Why is this information hidden from the public in the 1960s? Is there more than meets the eye to Marilyn Monroe and her many affairs? Could the U.S. government have anything to do with her sudden and unexpected death? Whatever the answers to these questions are, one thing is certain; there are too many unanswered questions for Monroe’s death to be a simple answer like suicide.
Although Marilyn Monroe has been one of the most prominent and influential figures in Hollywood, she had to endure numerous hardships before she ultimately became known as a world famous actress and model. Monroe was born Norma Jeane Baker on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles to Gladys Monroe Baker and Edward Mortenson (“The Life of Marilyn Monroe”). Unfortunately, her father died in a motorcycle at the age of three and then three years later, her mother was admitted to a mental institution. Growing up in foster homes most of her childhood did not allow Monroe to have role models to look up to. Also, somewhere in the array of foster homes, Monroe was raped leaving her with mental trauma and a stutter (Wolfe). Although Marilyn Monroe
Mr. Wear
AP Lang/Comp
12 June 2010
Period 5
Tragedy of a Star Celebrities are swarmed by the media on a daily basis, and most of the time, are not able to lead normal lives. The media waits for some huge story to leak out through the observation of celebrities. However, paparazzi cannot be around them twenty four hours a day; in the moments they are not around, unknown events occur that ultimately can lead to tragedies. Such tragedies, like assassinations and suicides, become subject to controversy and speculation. For example, Marilyn Monroe’s mysterious death has been analyzed for over 40 years and is still seen as an unsolved puzzle. Marilyn Monroe’s life was cut short on August 4, 1962 due to a drug overdose; her death certificate stated probable suicide; however, forensic pathologist Dr. Thomas Noguchi stated that it was a murder (Bell). Why is this information hidden from the public in the 1960s? Is there more than meets the eye to Marilyn Monroe and her many affairs? Could the U.S. government have anything to do with her sudden and unexpected death? Whatever the answers to these questions are, one thing is certain; there are too many unanswered questions for Monroe’s death to be a simple answer like suicide.
Although Marilyn Monroe has been one of the most prominent and influential figures in Hollywood, she had to endure numerous hardships before she ultimately became known as a world famous actress and model. Monroe was born Norma Jeane Baker on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles to Gladys Monroe Baker and Edward Mortenson (“The Life of Marilyn Monroe”). Unfortunately, her father died in a motorcycle at the age of three and then three years later, her mother was admitted to a mental institution. Growing up in foster homes most of her childhood did not allow Monroe to have role models to look up to. Also, somewhere in the array of foster homes, Monroe was raped leaving her with mental trauma and a stutter (Wolfe). Although Marilyn Monroe
Cited: Bell, Rachael. "The Death of Marilyn Monroe." TruTV.com: Not Reality. Actuality. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., 2010. Web. 5 June 2010. . Coates, Tim (2002). Marilyn Monroe: The F.B.I. Files. Littlehampton Book Services, UK. Guiles, Fred Lawrence. Legend: the Life and Death of Marilyn Monroe. New York: Stein and Day, 1984. Print. IMDbPro. "Marilyn Monroe." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Amazon.com, 1990-2010. Web. 7 June 2010. . Spoto, Donald (2001), Marilyn Monroe: The Biography. Cooper Square Press, N.Y. Summers, Anthony (1985). Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe. Orion Books Ltd., London. Wilson, Kirk (2002). Unsolved Crimes. Carroll & Graf Publications, NY. Wolfe, Donald H. (1998) The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe. William Morrow & Company. N.Y. Wolfe, Donald H. (1999). The Assassination of Marilyn Monroe. Warner Books, UK.