Introduction: One Word — "Rosebud"
The film begins with a mysterious word: “Rosebud.”
One of America’s most powerful men, media magnate Charles Foster Kane (played by Orson Welles), utters this word as he dies. His death becomes a major event for the media and the public. Journalist Jerry Thompson (William Alland) is assigned to investigate the meaning of Kane's last word, “Rosebud.” This quest drives the entire narrative of the film.
Labyrinth of Memories: The Mosaic of Kane's Life
Throughout the film, Kane’s life is gradually pieced together through the memories of those who knew him. These recollections are made up of complementary yet sometimes contradictory fragments. Each new perspective reveals a different facet of Kane’s complex character — his ego, dreamy idealism, and deep internal loneliness.
Childhood and Forced Separation
As a child, Kane lived in a modest family at the foot of the Colorado mountains, under poor conditions. His mother, wanting to secure a better future for her son, handed him over to the guardianship of a wealthy banker. Kane, believing he would gain freedom through this, left his mother — but this separation left a deep sense of loss within him.
Young Kane: Building a Media Empire
As a young man with newfound wealth, Kane takes over a newspaper called “The Inquirer.” He changes its principles, turning it into a platform that gives voice to the people and questions authority. However, over time, he falls into the same traps as those he once criticized, becoming entangled in his own wealth and self-interest.
Susan Alexander: The Pursuit of Perfect Love
Kane’s first marriage to Emily Norton is dull — more of a political alliance than a romantic one. His relationship with Susan Alexander, however, stems from emotional dependency. Susan longs for love and care, but Kane uses her as a means to fulfill his own needs. His attempt to turn her into an opera star is less about her happiness and more a symbol of a personal victory he seeks to claim.
The Collapse of Dreams: Xanadu
The Xanadu estate is where Kane isolates himself from the world — a palace filled with grandeur but saturated with loneliness. Every statue, every chamber stands as a fortress meant to hide his sorrow and fears. These are not just decorations, but echoes of the values he lost while amassing material wealth.
The Secret of "Rosebud": Love from Childhood
Towards the end of the film, the audience discovers that the object Kane so cherished — "Rosebud" — was a sled from his childhood. It symbolizes the pure and protected world he once knew. Throughout his life, Kane yearned to recapture that lost innocence, but strayed from it down the paths of fame and fortune.
Conclusion: A Life Lost in Emptiness
At the end of “Citizen Kane,” the viewer is struck by a profound realization: the true value of a human life is not determined by power or wealth, but by the preservation of pure emotions. Kane weeps not for what he gained, but for what he lost.
SHEFEQ.COM asks:
"Instead of chasing fame and power like Charles Foster Kane, what would you rather protect — pure love or authority?"
Let’s reflect...
Commentary:
“Citizen Kane” masterfully portrays the tragedy of a man who lost his pure emotions and deep need for love while pursuing fame. The media empire he built, the wealth he collected, the political power he wielded — none of it cured his loneliness. True happiness was hidden in a small sled he once lost — “Rosebud.”
The film teaches us that real happiness is not found in wealth, power, or fame — but in being loved, and in the pure, untouched memories of childhood.