Investigation of How Marilyn Monroe Actually Died

With an empty bottle of pills for her depression, Marylin Monroe was found dead, laying in her bed, face down, with a phone in one hand. After Marilyn Monroe‘s therapist left her house on the evening of August 4, 1962, he thought that her friend staying overnight was a good idea because he was worried about her. When Marilyn Monroe’s friend disagreed saying that she “seemed fine,” Marylin was left alone that night. History tells a many different versions of this story, and so many things happened that night that made the situation seem to have many different causes. Some say Marilyn Monroe’s death as an accidental overdose, some see it as murder, and some see it as a possible suicide. But no one really knows what happened that night. After studying all that is known about that night, Marylin Monroe overdosed on depression pills on purpose, or in other words committed suicide.

Marilyn Monroe did not have an ideal childhood. Her mother was emotionally unstable and was living in an asylum, so Marilyn Monroe was raised with many different foster parents and in and out of orphanages. In 1944 she took up a modeling gig and in 1946 she signed a contract with 20th Century Fox. Although these things lead to a financial success and made her one of the most known movie stars, it also type-casted her. She was tired as being seen as one of “those girls.” Back then, she seem to have it all. But it depends on the way you look at her story.

So what did happen to Marilyn Monroe? Was it murder, an accident, or suicide? There are arguments for each, but one of them is very obvious. Marilyn Monroe committed suicide. Although she was intelligent and well known, she still had difficulties throughout her career. She was typecast at a very early stage in her career. She also suffered from stage fright, perfectionism, and anxiety. She asked for retakes until she felt that the scene was perfect, and this was why people told her she was ‘difficult to work with.’ In an article written by Susan Doll, it says, “Marilyn spiraled into a dark depression -- the thought that she had caused the death of the man she had idolized since childhood was too much to bear”. This shows that after every little thing that happened in Marilyn Monroe‘s life, she didn’t know how to handle her emotions. This could have spiraled out of control, and then felt that taking her own life was the option.

Aside from her problems at work, she also dealt with personal problems. She had been through three marriages which all ended in divorce. She had a fight with 20th Century Fox to get better roles and requesting to get paid correctly, which would stress anyone out. She was tired of being seen as a “dumb blonde” and did not want to take a role in the movie The Misfits. She took a break from acting for a year and a half, while she was starting her own company. Over this break, she married Arthur Miller the summer of 1956. They soon became pregnant, but unfortunately lost the baby. Moriah Gill states, “Shortly after this, she was hospitalized for an accidental overdose”. Marilyn Monroe overdosed once, what makes you think she wouldn’t do it again? After she went back to acting, she hated the sexism she experienced and the fact that the movies she played in were based on her life. To cope with her problems, she continued her drug abuse. This ended up with her in the hospital for a week. Marilyn Monroe clearly has drug and alcohol problems, so after trying to overdose many times before, why is this one any different?

Some people might say that this was accidental. Although there was no note found, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t one left. When Marylin Monroe’s friend found her, she might have taken the note after seeing how Marylin Monroe had died. The note could have also been about her so she didn’t want the world to know about it. Maybe Marilyn didn’t want to leave a note. At the time, the world knew everything going on in Marylin Monroe’s life, what would she even write about. The Chicago Tribute states, “In our investigation we have learned that Miss Monroe has often expressed wishes to give up, to withdraw, and even to die”. After all the studies done on her, there’s not a point to share a note because the press already knew the problems Marilyn Monroe was facing. Even if she left a note, why would someone think the right thing to do is share it. A suicide note is to comfort people and help people process what happened, not for people to share with the press.

Marilyn Monroe was known everywhere she went. This is why the news of her death, at the age of just 36, took the word by shock. She had suffered from mental abuse, substance abuse and depression. Beside the bed was an empty bottle of sleeping pills that Marilyn Monroe took because something or someone pushed her over the limit. The impact on Marilyn Monroes death was international and fame grew larger than it was as an actress. An autopsy report showed that her death “was not a natural death.” Although many people don’t want to believe it, the facts point to the fact that Marilyn Monroe killed herself and couldn’t handle the problems she was facing.