Amelia
Mary Earhart was an American pilot who went missing on July 2nd, 1937. Being
one of the most influential women of her time, she was the first female to fly
by herself across the Atlantic Ocean. There are many theories as to why she
disappeared:
1. Her navigator was too drunk to operate heavy
machinery causing them to crash on a stranded island.
2. She was secretly in love with her
navigator, Fred Noonan, faked her dead and ran off with him.
3. The Japanese shot down her plane, capturing
her causing her to ended up in prison on the island of Saipan.
Let’s examine all of
these options and determine how likely the possibility of Fred Noonan being too
intoxicated is the cause of this major scandal.
Who
was Amelia Earhart? She was one of the greatest people of her time because she
courageously exceeded all of the societal norms placed on a woman. Imagine an
outgoing, bold woman's rights activist, with short blonde hair, piercing gray
eyes, pearly white skin, who stood "5 feet 8 inches" (Gillespie) tall
as the first successful aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She was
scrutinized because she was a female in the United States during the
1930’s. Her accomplishments could not be
denied, and she became known as the "It Girl." Ironically, most men
did not like her because she challenged the oppressive cultural standards for
women during that time because she just did not fit in. The trials she faced in
pursuit of her aviation goals were remarkable, and although she was confronted
with the suppressive and misogynistic views of the times, she persevered and
hoisted herself as a top aviator, and that is why she is still remembered
today.
Why
would one of the most prestige aviators just mysteriously have a freak accident
and go missing? The pressure of being such a powerful voice was ultimately her
internal conflict or downfall. She tried so hard to leave the best impression
on the overall look of her occupation, but all it did was tear down her
confidence. Every once in a while everyone doubts themselves; it can be hard to
know whether your craft is satisfying or rubbing people in the wrong way.
Amelia Earhart had a tendency to strive to be perfect: "Perfect is never the same, perfect is the impossible. Perfect is
different to everyone, in which: no one can be perfect."(Canada). While
being well-known in the public eye, she never got to understand her true self.
Not entirely comprehending herself as an individual put herself in question,
which is why the terrible incident, when Earhart and her navigator Frederick
Noonan attempted to fly around the world, left society in awe. Whether it was
her companion's negligence, her secret love or even the Japanese this ended in
disaster.
Her
external conflict was a case of character versus society. Earhart did not fit into
the standard criteria of citizens in the 1930's and was constantly reminded of
that. She repeatedly had to prove herself, especially because this was also the
time of The Great Depression. The typical lady of her day took care of the
household and children while the man of the house took care of the funding.
Women were too afraid to rise like she did because the average American family
was scarcely making a living. The point Amelia Earhart tried to make, that
woman can do anything, was valid but at that time it seemed like a dream too
far out of reach.
Amelia Earhart may have indicated her disappearance. She would say
certain things that could be seen in many different ways. For example, she said
"In my life, I had come to realize that, when things were going very well,
indeed, it was just the time to anticipate trouble. And, conversely, I learned
from pleasant experience that at the most despairing crisis, when all looked
sour beyond words, some delightful "break" was apt to lurk just
around the corner." (Family of Amelia Earhart). She might have been
talking about how internally she felt too pressured to be the perfect role
model and that she was going to take advantage of her trip and disappear.
Another example of her foreshadowing could have been when she said: "The
more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do, and the more
genuine may be one's appreciation of fundamental things like home, and love,
and understanding companionship." (Family of Amelia Earhart). Deep down
all she wanted to do was take off in her plane, travel and make anywhere home.
Back then, the thought of Amelia Earhart, an incredible individual who was
paramount compared to the average woman in society, devising such a
controversial escape was preposterous. One of Earhart's fellow colleagues
Walter J. Boyne said: "Amelia Earhart came perhaps before her time...the
smiling, confident, capable, yet compassionate human being, is one of which we
can all be proud."(Family of Amelia Earhart). She was incredibly
inspirational, and it doesn't seem in her character to just disappear without
there being a hidden meaning.
There
are three highlighted conspiracy theories to the missing person’s case of
Amelia Earhart. One of them suggests that
she was a prisoner of war. However, the other two arguments advocate that Fred
Noonan played a vital part. The first conspiracy theory suggests that Amelia
Earhart's navigator, Fred Noonan, was too drunk to operate heavy machinery
causing them to [G1] [G2] [G3] crash
on an uninhabited island. There were even claims that alcoholism caused Pan
American Airways to fire him from his job.
It was evident to most of his acquaintances that he was not always in
control of all of his actions because of inebriation. There is not any
rationalized evidence to validate the claims of Fred Noonan being an
intoxicated at the time of the disappearance, but there is clear evidence of
his past drunkard behavior. “Others even claimed that, for the final takeoff
from New Guinea, he was so hung over that he had to be helped aboard the
airplane. However, a film of Earhart and Noonan boarding the airplane that
morning show a bright and cheerful Fred Noonan helping Amelia up onto the
wing.” (2016)[G4] [G5]
The
next theory seems to be the most realistic because it talks about Amelia
Earhart having a secret love. If she were to have a secret love with Fred
Noonan and faked her death, it would explain all of the hints she left behind.
It does seem a little crazy for her to up and abandon her family for one man.
Although there is no validation of this theory, it is the most logical
assumption for the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. A controlled survey of twenty participants
revealed that the majority (80%), of the subjects, agreed with the idea that
Amelia Earhart had a secret affair with her navigator, Fred Noonan, faked her
death and ran off with him. Earhart and Noonan both left behind outstanding
careers and very few family members. The
logical conclusion most of the subjects of the survey chose showed the
affection between Earhart and Noonan was pivotal in their relationship and a
critical factor in them deserting public life.
Fred Noonan worked tirelessly, day and night, with Amelia Earhart to
help her achieve her aviation goals. His
wife, at the time, stated “Fred had had several good business offers… It seems
I have hardly seen him since we married.” (Hanes, 2012)
The
last conspiracy theory focuses on the Japanese and America’s standpoint in
World War II. This conspiracy theory
claimed that Japan shot Amelia Earhart’s plane down, capturing her, and forcing
her to be a prisoner of war. This assertion goes even further to say that when
the war concluded, the Japanese released Amelia and allowed her to go back to
the United States where she settled in New Jersey until her demise. The plot of
this theory thickens because it alleged that she assumed a new identity and was
never recognized again. “A 1970 book put
forth a creative solution to the Earhart mystery. The author claimed the famous
pilot survived a Pacific Ocean plane crash and was taken prisoner by the
Japanese. At the end of World War II, U.S. forces purportedly found her in
Japan and secretly repatriated her to New Jersey. There, Earhart took the name
Irene Bolam and became a banker.” (Hanes, 2012)
This idea seemed very realistic and even plausible, but “when the real
Bolam got wind of the book’s claims, she vigorously denied being Earhart and
sued the author and publisher for $1.5 million. (The lawsuit was later
withdrawn, though Bolam may have settled out of court.) Numerous experts who
investigated Bolam’s life and compared her photos to Earhart’s agree that
Bolam, who died in 1982, was not the missing aviator.” (Hanes, 2012) If Earhart
loved her job and being in the public eye as revealed in numerous reports, she
most likely would have come back claiming her rightful name.
Most
of the theories surrounding Amelia Earhart’s disappearance show a direct
connection and lead directly to Fred Noonan. He defiantly played a key role in
this random vanishing. The three conspiracies all have very valid points, and
all have potential sensibility behind them. Out of all of these arguments, the
most popular explanation would be that she planned the whole disappearance to
cause a scandal that has become a legend, and is still talked about to this
day.
On
July 2, 1937, on her voyage around the world, forty-year-old Amelia Mary
Earhart’s journey ended in turmoil. The result of this trip led to several
conspiracy theories:
1. Her navigator was too drunk to operate
heavy machinery causing them to crash on a stranded island.
2. She was secretly in love with her
navigator, Fred Noonan, faked her dead and ran off with him.
3. The Japanese shot down her plane, capturing
her causing her to end up in prison on the island of Saipan.
Work
Cited
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A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
Canada, By
Trenchquinn St. Catharines. "Society and the Pressure to Be Perfect."
Teen Politics Essay. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
"Earhart
Project Research Papers." Earhart Project Research Papers. N.p., n.d. Web.
27 Nov. 2016.
"Fred
Noonan." Fred Noonan. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
Gillespie,
Richard E. "Earhart Biography." Earhart Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 27
Nov. 2016.
Hanes,
Elizabeth. "What Happened to Amelia?: 9 Tantalizing Theories About the
Earhart Disappearance." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2012.
Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
Heller, Jake.
The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
History.com
Staff. "Amelia Earhart." History.com. A&E Television Networks,
2009. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
"The
Official Website of Amelia Earhart." The Official Website of Amelia
Earhart. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
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