“I want to be a big star more than anything. Its something precious” (“About Marilyn Monroe” 1). Marilyn Monroe started in life with a difficult childhood. Throughout her years, many of her dreams had been crushed and destroyed. One dream she never let go of was to be extraordinary in life. Despite struggles in childhood, early life, and adulthood, she kept becoming more successful. Marilyn Monroe started her life with many struggles and hardships in her childhood. She was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 at the Los Angeles General Hospital (“About Marilyn Monroe” 1). Marilyn’s father deserted Gladys, who was Marilyn’s mother, when he found out she was going to give birth (Henderson 1). Marilyn says she remembers her grandmother trying …show more content…
Living with Grace again at the age of fifteen, she met Jim Dougherty (“About Marilyn Monroe” 1). Grace encouraged the relationship, considering she and her husband would be moving to the east coast (“About Marilyn Monroe” 1). Marilyn, who was still Norma Jeane at the time, was to marry Dougherty on June 19, 1942 (“About Marilyn Monroe” 1). Dougherty joined the merchant marines in 1943, and in 1944 was sent overseas while Norma Jeane worked in a factory inspecting parachutes (“About Marilyn Monroe” 1). In 1944, Norma Jeane was photographed as a promotion to show women contributing to the war effort (“About Marilyn Monroe” 1). By spring of 1945, she became known as a “photographer’s dream” and had appeared on thirty-three covers of national magazines (“About Marilyn Monroe” 1). When Dougherty returned, he wanted Norma Jeane to choose between modeling or a home life with him (Henderson 1). The marriage ended four years later when she found her success in modeling, and “Marilyn Monroe” was born, her aspirations were to become famous and loved (Henderson 1). Marilyn herself said, “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” (Henderson 1). Marilyn’s career was built on her beauty, charisma, and sex appeal (Henderson 1). She began modeling for magazine covers, receiving small roles in movies, and was Playboy’s first centerfold (Henderson 1). Her second marriage was to retired baseball great, Joe DiMaggio (Henderson 1). It only lasted nine months (Henderson 1). Joe wanted a conservative marriage, with a wife at home, but Marilyn was not the average homemaker and refused to change (Henderson 1). Two years after the divorce, Marilyn married playwright Arthur Miller; however, they divorced five years later (Henderson 1). Marilyn never