But the cruelest is not always the one who shouts. Sometimes it’s the one who is silent, who observes, who takes notes. The one who writes about you but does not speak to you. That was her third husband, Arthur Miller. Not a savior, but a man who documented her madness. He did not betray her body; he betrayed her with words. When Arthur married Marilyn in 1956, her star was at its peak. Their union attracted massive media attention. It became a powerful PR engine for both: Miller gained access to Hollywood glamour, Monroe gained a deeper intellectual image. His plays became more visible in the media, he became a regular at social events, and his name became associated with the “elite” of American culture. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1961, but Miller continued to be known as “Marilyn’s husband” in the public eye, maintaining his popularity and public interest. Yet, despite this, Arthur despised Marilyn. Here is an excerpt from Miller’s diary, dated 1957:

“She is backward. Her world is illusions and funhouse mirrors. She cannot understand even simple things; seriousness is foreign to her. Everything she does is play, and in this play, she is lost.”

Miller did not just criticize Monroe — he despised her and tried to distance himself emotionally. Close friends and staff confirm that Miller could be harsh and cynical. Noticing her attempts to become a serious actress, he once told friends:

“She will never grow up. She is a child playing at being an adult.”