"Copy Cat!"

Dr. S. Stack argues that suicide rates went up when Marilyn Monroe died. He claims that 303, or 12%, more suicides occurred during the month of Monroe’s death. The suicide rates also increased 2.51% during the media coverage. Stack develops this claim by first researching David Phillip’s work on a “copycat suicide.” Stack outlines a “copycat suicide by stating it is when people attempt the same suicide as someone else. Lastly, the author states when people heard of Monroe’s death they thought, with all Monroe’s fame and fortune, she cannot take on life, “Why should I?” Dr. S. Stack’s purpose was to inform readers about the suicide rate increase in order to show how Monroe’s death affected society. This work is significant because it helps me answer my questions, how did Marilyn Monroe’s death affect society?