Marilyn Monroe Suicide or Murder?
Valerie Fox
Who is Marilyn Monroe?
Marilyn Monroe was a famous actress, appearing in movies such as The Asphalt Jungle and All about Eve in 1950, Niagara and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953, There's no Business like Show Business in 1954, The Seven Year Itch in 1955, and many, many more. On August 5th, 1962, Monroe was found dead in her Los Angeles home when she was only 32 years old. There was an empty pill bottle next to her bed that once held 50 sleeping pills. Rumors that she had been involved with John and/or Robert F. Kennedy has led some to believe they had her murdered, while others believe she committed suicide by taking those 50 sleeping pills.
The Media's Take on Marilyn's Death
From a simple suicide to a murder planned out by the Kennedy brothers, the media has stretched this beauty icon's death out of proportion. Some news articles claim that she committed suicide with 50 sleeping pills, others with 40 pills that aren't named, some that claim she accidentally swallowed 50 pills, and even some claiming that Robert F. Kennedy had sent someone to murder Monroe. Which is the real truth? With all the media out there now, it's hard to say what exactly did happen that night.
Los Angeles Times
Claims She Took 50 Nembutal Capsules
Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy
Theory Claiming She was Murdered by the Kennedy's
The New York Mirror
Claims She Took 40 Unnamed Pills
Bias
The media is very biased towards Monroe's death because of the little evidence they have on what really happened. All sources know about the empty pill bottle next to her bed, so all of them include that as the cause of death. None of them mention any evidence of any other conspiracies that could have been the end of the movie-star icon.
Criticism
Feminist criticism was used the most in all of the articles on Marilyn Monroe's death. This is mainly because Monroe was seen as a symbol of sex, beauty, and youth. She was always portrayed in make-up and dresses and she looked flawless in each photo.
So Which Theory is True?
I believe that Marilyn Monroe committed suicide with the sleeping pills found empty beside her bed. If she had run out earlier, she would have gone to get more. Her hand was also found on the phone, which suggests that after taking the pills, she was planning to call someone and let them know of her plans, but the pills probably killed her faster than she expected them to so she didn't get the chance. The "murder by the Kennedy's" seems like too far of a stretch for this event, and for the "accidentally swallowing all 50 pills" theory...no one can 'accidentally swallow' 50 sleeping pills without knowing it.
Sources
"Marilyn Monroe Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 6 May 2015.
"The Woman Who Will Not Die." PBS. PBS. Web. 6 May 2015.
"Marilyn and Her Monsters." Vanity Fair. Web. 6 May 2015.