So I recently watched My Week with Marilyn. For those of you who haven't heard of it, the film documents a week in the life of Colin Clark, a love interest of Marilyn Monroe. Through Colin we are given a window of insight into the world of Norma Jean (Marilyn Monroe). We see her not as the sex symbol that has been so boldly portrayed but as a soul, a person, a human being. I was enlightened.
I, unlike the rest of the world was not a Marilyn fan. I didn't understand why we were giving so much credit to the person who was arguably wholly responsible for the phrase 'dumb blonde'. I was irritated by the voice, the walk and the entire persona. In all honesty, I didn't even see the attraction.
But I was intrigued by the film. And I think a part of me wanted to be enchanted in the way that the rest of the world had been. And I was. I was captivated. It wasn't just about the beauty though. If it was simply appearance, her legend would have died long ago. It was something much more rare than that. Something else that I still can't seem to define. It would probably be known today as The X Factor. But all the enchantment I experienced came secondary to the overwhelming sympathy that I felt for her. I surprised myself.
She was a shell of a person. The Marilyn the world knew was just an act, a one dimensional character. She wasn't real. Reality showed us a lost little girl who self-medicated to cope with the pain of portraying the 'person' people wanted to see. She was a cash cow, a money maker. Men either saw a business opportunity or a sexual object. One of the lines that stayed with me from the film was a quote from her agent stating 'we keep her on the pills because she's easier to control that way.' Marilyn was used and abused by almost everyone in her life. It was a true tragedy.
However, I am not as naive to assume she was a complete victim. We are all in control to some extent of our own lives. But she seemed so driven by her desire to be loved that this dominated her entire existence. She floated through life, from lover to lover never feeling good enough for anyone. She once said that when her lovers realised Marilyn Monroe didn't exist, they'd quickly lose interest. Norma Jean wasn't who they wanted. And so she sacrificed Norma Jean for the sake of Marilyn Monroe who was just a falsity and a lie. As a result she became an icon but lost the person in the process.
There is no doubt she has become a legend. But through discovering Norma Jean, I don't feel her legend is something to be celebrated. She was sad, lonely and desperate to be wanted. She was consistently moved from different foster homes as a child, suffered three miscarriages and three divorces. Her one wish to be truly loved in life was never fulfilled. The natural sparkle she possessed was persistently poked and prodded to create the persona of Marilyn Monroe. She was made to be what others wanted. A sexual object. A glamour girl. A bimbo and at times, a joke. She forgot how to be Norma Jean. But the most tragic thought is that she didn't feel that she could just be herself. She never realised that her natural beauty and talent was more than enough to give to the world.
But she did not live in vain. If we ignore the pretty pictures and iconic images we can really learn something from Norma Jean. Be true to yourself and never let the world define you. You should define the world.
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