BEING MARILYN MONROE
Belief System
The belief
system of Marilyn Monroe is a complex one. As Norma Jeane, in childhood she
would be exposed to the religious beliefs of her carers. In adulthood she would
embrace religious conversion for the sake of marriage. In later life psychology
became her prime directive, along with politics. It would be fair to say that Marilyn
was influenced by those around her, as indeed most of us are in our life
journey.
Psychology
Freudian
psychology was the dominant influence in Marilyn's life. This came about later in her life when she began therapy and medication under Dr Ralph Greenson. Prior to this she had developed a route towards psycho analysis through the method acting that she undertook training in through Lee Strasberg. Connections with Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund also reinforced this in her. The later years of her life were spent in psychological regression to her childhood as an answer to her life. It is left to the reader to wonder
if a more outward looking theory such as Carl Rodgers self-existential theory,
may have fitted better with her expression through the arts.
Politics
Democrat. Asked to be a delegate at conference though film commitments ruled this out. Her friendship with the Kennedys is well known. This came about through her views on society. Marilyn believed in equality. Her support of Ella Fitzgerald is testament to that. Money was never an obsession for Marilyn; her final bank accounts were in debit.
Religion
Christian Science in the early years. Judaism due to marriage with Arthur Miller. These affilliations were formal in nature. They were never expressed as heartfelt in either her writing or interviews.
In the above
bare factual analysis of Marilyn’s Belief System, deliberatly left that way for the reader to make up their own minds, it can be concluded that her search for
meaning was self-existential. It was within the human experience itself that
she sought to understand existence. For her, art itself was spiritual
expression, with her being quoted as saying that acting was like a religion. Freudian psychology undoubtedly gave her a
lynch-pin on which to construct a psychological interpretation of human life.
The earlier Christian Science and Judaism not having brought the answers that
she sought, while mainstream Christianity was never for her. It is fair
then to conclude that Marilyn was essentially a humanist, and open about that.
Her left-wing politics of altruism towards the disadvantaged tend to confirm
this. Overall then, the belief system of Marilyn Monroe was that of involving a
caring human nature, involving society.
Alan Ewing Msc, BA Hons, Cert HE
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