Marilyn the immortal

What is it that makes a human being a legend? For instance, what made Norma/Marilyn one?

I am sure that a lot of people already have their idea on this and I am pretty certain that many people have a quite common opinion of this subject. I would say that my personal opinion is in line with the common opinion; but, maybe, the fact that it is so obvious, makes it all the more true.

In fact, Marilyn was not the only beautiful woman, not the only one with a tormented private life, not the only one to die young in tragic circumstances, not the only one to live the Hollywood golden era. Many other actresses fulfil these characteristics, but very few all of them together.

Marilyn was absolutely beautiful and she was a very good actress, lending her face to some landmark roles in the history of cinema. She married a bunch of times and had relationship with very important men. Yet, all these things are true, say, of Liz Taylor as well. In my humble opinion Liz Taylor was actually a better actress as well; but I know she is not the icon that Monroe is.

It is true that, in her movies, Marilyn is the light of the show in a way that many of her contemporaries never achieved. And yet, I cannot push away the tought that if she hadn't died young, the memory of her would have been different.

Mind me, I don't think that dying is worth it: living forever does not pay back the fact that you actually lived a very short (and apperently miserable) life. Yet, heroes die young: their youth is preserved by death, they dont know the decadence of time and, above all, those who stay have all the time in the world to build castles about them. Just like we did for Marilyn.

Of course, none of this matters without one fundamental tiny thing that some often seem to forget: talent, and she had planty.