Citizen Kane Review

In Citizen Kane, Orson Welles takes his audience on a fascinating journey to discover the meaning of Charles Foster Kane’s last word, “Rosebud.” In which, viewers are encouraged to embark on this journey to help solve the identity of Charles Kane. Through each turn, however, the viewer finds out other information about Charles Kane’s life without fully uncovering the story behind his last word. It isn’t until the final scene of the film that the secret possession is revealed for only the audience to notice, while the characters on set are left to wonder what Kane’s untold mystery was. During the conclusion of the film after many failed attempts at cracking this case, reporter, Jerry Thompson stated, “I don’t think a word could explain a man’s life.” However, I believe that the audience might think otherwise based on the significance of the term, “Rosebud.” This word does not simply identify an old-fashioned sleigh that Kane used to play with during his childhood; it represents an entire chapter in his life that has been suppressed by years of fame and fortune. 

Although it may appear to others that Kane had everything a man could want in his life, he was never truly satisfied because money and popularity do not equate to personal happiness. During the years of his honored success, Kane found himself being known for his actions and accomplishments.  He was often referred to as a social icon.  These false identities had actually robbed him of his true identity.   In hopes of self-discovery, he continued to search for more political fame and social acceptance.  As a result, Kane’s self-centeredness left him with a great amount of wealth, power, and prestige.  In the process, however, Kane also becomes separated and disconnected from his pure childhood innocence.  Viewers can conclude that Kane’s last word served as his final effort in reclamation of his fondest memories as a child.  As an audience, to fully understand the mystery of Charles Kane, investigators must peel back the layers in Kane’s life to determine his true identity.  Before there was ever any fame and fortune, who was Charles Foster Kane?  What were Kane’s most valuable possessions as a child? 

During the most heartbreaking scene in the movie where his wife, Susan, left him, Kane stumbled across an old snow globe.  This couldn’t have been just any ordinary snow globe, however, because unlike all the rest of the useless possessions in the room that he wrecked and destroyed, Kane kept this item in his hand as he staggered out of the room.  Something about that object gave Charles Kane the most indescribable look on his face.  It’s as if all those years of repressed memories and emotions had struck him all at once.  Kane could no longer protect himself from the feelings that were associated with his childhood and the legendary sled, “Rosebud,” because he realized that those were the years of his life that brought him pure happiness.  If only Kane had rediscovered the joy from his childhood, perhaps his life would not have ended in tragedy and guilt.  In the end, Kane lost everything that ever meant anything to him at all.