Arthur Miller opens up about marriage to Marilyn Monroe in newly unearthed recordings
Exclusive: Taped conversations also cover playwright’s relationship with fame, self-doubt and communism
TL;DR
- Arthur Miller spoke candidly in newly discovered recordings about his marriage to Marilyn Monroe, describing her need for a "father, lover, friend and agent" and believing her child would have been an "additional problem."
- Miller felt Monroe's death from a drug overdose was "inevitable," citing her intense lifestyle and drug use.
- He admitted realizing his marriage to Monroe was a mistake within months, citing her "delicate psychological position" and lack of inner resources.
- The recordings also cover Miller's struggles with fame after the success of 'Death of a Salesman,' his "struggle with self-doubt," and his experiences with McCarthyism, which led him to write 'The Crucible'.
- Miller discussed his flirtation with communism, his refusal to name names before the House Un-American Activities Committee, and his fears during that era.
- The tapes, spanning nearly 30 years, also touch upon his upbringing, views on Zionism, inspiration for his plays, the Holocaust's impact, and his marriage to Inge Morath.