Why Do We Still Love Marilyn Monroe

1962 Marilyn Monroe is found dead. Over 40 years have passed and yet we see her likeness everywhere. She remains iconic. We hear that word a lot lately in the news, used rather too often, referring to movie stars. In the Encarta Dictionary the #4 definition of ICON is: recognizable symbol: a picture or symbol that is universally recognized to be representative of something. If ever there was a definition that fits Marilyn Monroe, that's it. To this day, she is universally recognized.

Every year it seems that new, unpublished photo's of Marilyn appear. Certainly the camera loved her as even at her worst in some photo's, it's hard to take your eyes off her image.

Whether one thinks of her as tragic, or heroic, or simply one of the most beautiful women of the world for her time, and indeed, for any other time; she lives on in the hearts of not just her contemporaries, but to two new generations as well.

In our time today, when excesses are just the norm, and we seem to have no reaction at all to an inordinate amount of drug use and violence from movie stars. And so, it now seems somewhat "common" that she died of an overdose. After all, a lot of so-called "big stars" have done that since then. But how big is big? How long will the rest of them remain icons? It's highly doubtful that 40 years from now you will see the amount of photo's and books, press reports and general media coverage for Kurt Cobain that would equal Marilyn Monroe's! So the question is: what is it about her that draws us?

Perhaps it's all of it. The beauty, that transcends paper or film and seems to look right at us; the tragedy of her life where she could not seem to find happiness with any man, even though so lovely; or the heroic nature of her ability to persevere through many things that would have stopped anyone else in their tracks, long before.

Those of us that were around when she was alive and could follow her life somewhat, still lament that it did not work with Joe DiMaggio. After all, it was perfectly clear that he loved her - the real person, not the icon. What drives anyone, let alone Marilyn and Joe, to let go of such a deep love? Perhaps it is just that. Too deep a love breeds too much upset at anything that does not fit the picture of how it "should be". And so, people come apart because of the level of the passion of their love; unable to think past the now and unable to let the one they love make mistakes.

Perhaps we can all envision Joe and Marilyn, finally happy in some wonderful hereafter, living a quiet life, talking, walking, and just enjoying each other. No fame, no pressure, just an abiding comfort and peaceful love.

There is no question that Marilyn is in fact a legend. Within her own lifetime she created a myth about herself. A mystery. And there is nothing that the people like to encounter more, than a mystery! Endlessly fascinating; endlessly watchable; and enduringly unknown in a real-life sense. Marilyn was all of that and more.

The other part of Marilyn that continues her popularity is that we all can share in the heights of her fame and brilliance; and the lows of her rejections and ultimate tragedy. It makes her into a real person. Caught up in, first - the ultimate dream. Stardom, riches, fame, and adoration. And second - caught up in the pain of life, the losses and difficulties that everyone faces. She didn't hide, although she could have used more privacy. She was 'everywoman'. If she could make it, then we all can make it. To get to the top of her profession; to become a great actress, and a good singer/entertainer; and then to overcome so many losses to rise again and again, she inspires us.

And in the end, inspiration is the grandest of all gifts. However, it comes to you, it is inspiration that drives us; enables our creativity; endows us with more than we seem to have sometimes; and overall, makes us happy and productive in a personally satisfying way. Thanks Marilyn Monroe. You were one of a kind; we still love you, and you deserve that affection. Be at peace.

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