Marilyn Monroe, renowned for her captivating presence, embarked on two noteworthy marriages with Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller.
However, her initial venture into matrimony occurred at the tender age of 16 when she wed James Dougherty.
In pursuit of self-worth, Marilyn's tumultuous childhood, marked by an absent father, an unstable mother, foster homes, and various upheavals, prompted her to seek solace in the protective arms of a man.
At the age of 16 in 1942, she married James Dougherty, a blue-collar aspiring police officer. Dougherty, unaware of the future Marilyn Monroe, became romantically involved with Norma Jean Baker, who lived with their neighbors. The marriage was a response to prevent him from returning to foster care, and despite appearing functional, Marilyn's later letters revealed her husband's infidelity.
During Dougherty's World War II deployment, Marilyn gained recognition as a sought-after model in Los Angeles and filed for divorce in 1946. Despite Dougherty's attempts at reconciliation, Marilyn was determined to become the iconic Marilyn Monroe, signing a contract with 20th Century Fox that prohibited her from being married.
Her second significant relationship was with Joe DiMaggio, a baseball legend. The marriage in 1954, an embodiment of the American dream, lasted only nine months. DiMaggio, unable to adapt to the star-studded lifestyle, grappled with intense jealousy over Marilyn's desirability. Despite the brevity of their marriage, DiMaggio's enduring love was evident through his ritual of sending flowers to Marilyn's grave three times a week for two decades after her death.
In 1951, Marilyn encountered Arthur Miller, an intellectual Jew, at the age of 25. They tied the knot five years later, with Marilyn converting to Judaism. Miller, a Pulitzer-winning playwright, sought to rescue Marilyn from her perceived troubles.
Despite initial happiness, their marriage unraveled in 1960, and Marilyn had a famous affair with Yves Montand during the filming of 'The Billionaire.' Though Miller understood Marilyn's struggles, he succumbed to the challenges of her complex personality, eventually leaving her for photographer Inge Morath, whom he met while working on 'Rebel Lives.'
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller remained together until 1961. Miller, perhaps the person best equipped to comprehend Marilyn's internal struggles, ultimately found himself exhausted by her unhealthy personality and chose to part ways, illustrating the paradoxes of life.
