Marilyn Monroe & Pop Culture

Marilyn Monroe and Pop Culture during the 1950s

Marilyn Monroe, a popular filmstar in the 1950s, is a central motif in Russell's play. Her life parallels that of characters in the play, particularly the Johnstone family.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was a famous American film star and pop culture icon who was famed for her glamour and beauty.
However, while her public image was one of carefree perfection, behind the scenes she battled with mental health issues and addiction which culminated in her death by overdose in 1963 at the age of 36.

References to Monroe

At the start of Act One, Mrs. Johnstone sings that her husband once told her that she was “sexier than Marilyn Monroe”, but as their relationship deteriorated, he eventually left her for someone else who “looks a bit like Marilyn Monroe”.
As Mickey’s antidepressant addiction takes hold of him, she observes that he is “like Marilyn Monroe”, this time referring to her battle with addiction, rather than her beauty and glamour.

Parallels between the Johnstone family and Monroe

The parallels between the Johnstone family and the life of Marilyn Monroe become very clear to the audience as we see Mrs. Johnstone’s hopes of a happy ending for her family quickly fade away amid scandal and addiction.

What Monroe represents in the play

The symbol of Marilyn Monroe also serves as a reminder that, despite outward appearances, behind the scenes there is often a dark reality.
This strongly links to the character of Mrs. Lyons, who desperately wants to present an image of decency, but is always trying to escape her dark past.

Pop culture

The 1950s saw society go through massive changes which made pop culture (music, films, television etc.) much more accessible to ordinary working people like the Johnstones.
Despite her poverty, Mrs. Johnstone is still able to occasionally “go dancing” (Act One) in clubs.
The violent games played by the children in Act One are undoubtedly influenced by popular cowboy and gangster movies of the time.

1Context & Author

1.1Context

1.1.1Setting

1.1.2Political Background

1.1.3Education & Work

1.1.4Marilyn Monroe & Pop Culture

1.1.5Family

1.2Author

1.2.1Willy Russell

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Author

2Plot

2.1Act One

2.1.1Overview: Introduction to Mrs Johnstone & Lyons

2.1.2Analysis: Introduction to Mrs. Johnston and Lyons

2.1.3Overview: The Birth of Mickey & Edward

2.1.4Analysis: The Birth of Mickey & Edward

2.1.5Overview: Mickey Playing at Home

2.1.6Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds

2.1.7Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds

2.1.8Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2

2.1.9Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Act One

2.1.11End of Topic Test - Act One 2

2.2Act Two

2.2.1Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers

2.2.2Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers

2.2.3Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2

2.2.4Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2

2.2.5Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3

2.2.6Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3

2.2.7Overview: Mickey & Edward as Adults

2.2.8Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Adults

2.2.9End of Topic Test - Act Two

2.2.10End of Topic Test - Act Two 2

3Characters

3.1Mickey

3.1.1Mickey

3.1.2Mickey as a Damaged Adult

3.2Edward

3.2.1Edward

3.2.2Edward 2

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Mickey & Edward

3.3Linda

3.3.1Linda

3.3.2Linda 2

3.4Mrs Johnstone

3.4.1Mrs Johnstone

3.4.2Mrs Johnstone 2

3.5Mrs Lyons

3.5.1Mrs Lyons

3.5.2Mrs Lyons 2

3.5.3End of Topic Test - Linda & Mothers

3.6Mr Lyons

3.6.1Mr Lyons

3.7Sammy

3.7.1Sammy

3.8The Narrator

3.8.1The Narrator

3.9Minor

3.9.1Minor Characters

3.9.2End of Topic Test - Other Characters

3.10End of Topic Sessions

3.10.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Themes

4.1Parents & Children

4.1.1Parents & Children

4.2Growing Up

4.2.1Growing Up

4.3Friendship & Brotherhood

4.3.1Friendship & Brotherhood

4.3.2End of Topic Test - Parents, Growing Up, Friends

4.4Fate & Superstition

4.4.1Fate & Superstition

4.5Nature vs. Nurture

4.5.1Nature vs. Nurture

4.6Social Class

4.6.1Social Class

4.6.2End of Topic Test - Fate, Upbringing & Class

5Literary Techniques

5.1Structure

5.1.1Structure

5.2Tragedy

5.2.1Tragedy

5.3Dramatic Irony

5.3.1Dramatic Irony

5.4Imagery

5.4.1Imagery

5.5Character & Voice

5.5.1Character

5.6Music & Lyrics

5.6.1Music & Lyrics

5.7Accent & Dialect

5.7.1Accent & Dialect

5.7.2End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques

5.7.3End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 2

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