Rosebud is perhaps the most famous symbol in movie history. What is the significance of the name "rosebud?" What is the significance of the sled? Is it the key to understanding Kane's life or just one missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle that does not explain much at all?
The name “Rosebud” itself is not nearly as significant as what it represents, but perhaps it is the simplicity of the name that makes it so important. While not necessarily the key to Kane’s life, as the question puts it, the sled (or, rather, its significance) is a critical component of Kane’s personality. Rosebud represents Charles Kane’s childhood, which he lost when he was adopted by Mr. Thatcher. Over time, his obsession with power, influence, and money grew. This change is quite evident, for example, in the scene where he destroys the document outlining the principles of the Inquirer newspaper. Kane’s drive in life is perhaps best described by Jedediah Leland, who says to the investigator, “All he really wanted out of life was love. That's Charlie's story -- it's the story of how he lost it. You see, he just didn't have any to give.” I believe that by trying to gain other people’s love and respect, Kane was trying to create a semblance of the life he might have had without being adopted. When Kane uttered “Rosebud” in his dying breath, it was in a sense his final attempt at reaching what had always been unattainable for him: a normal life.
I agree that a lot of his problems stemmed from his childhood, specifically those with his relationships. Rosebud is the one image from his childhood that stays with the audience especially since we do not see much of his experience before he is given away. This image focused on because it is the key to understanding Mr. Kane’s life from his wives to his newspaper. He was always looking for love, but never really found it with either marriage. This could be because he was not really sure what he was looking for as he never had a loving relationship with his parents. Instead of confronting his problems he buries himself in work at the newspaper. He is not willing to make peace with the fact that his mother did not love him the way he wanted her to and that is why he can’t find a loving relationship. It is always hanging over his head and he tries to make sure he is not like that, but in a sense he is. He pushed both wives away to a point of no return. Rosebud is a piece of the jigsaw puzzle because it is the basis for why Kane lived his life the way he did. The end scene of the sled burning sends the message that all of Kane’s relationships eventually ended up in flames so to speak. Whether it was his family, friends, or his wives they all ended with him alone. “Rosebud” was the just the starting point of him being alone.
I agree with John that the name ”Rosebud” itself does not necessarily have a strong meaning in the movie, but I believe that the sled does. I think it represents his childhood, when he was happiest. The first scene of the movie has Mr. Kane dying and muttering the word “Rosebud” and dropping the snow globe, but the viewer has no clue what Rosebud is. The first sight of the sled is when Charles Foster Kane was just a young boy playing in the snow in Colorado. He is playing with Rosebud when Mr. Thatcher comes with Charles’ mother and father to tell him that he is going to leave. When Charles leaves with Mr. Thatcher, there is a dissolve shot that lets the viewer see the sled as it gets buried with snow. To me, this represents Charles Foster Kane’s old life being left behind and forgotten. Towards the end of the movie, when Mr. Kane looks into the snow globe after destroying Susan’s room and again mutters “Rosebud”, it signifies a realization that he has, remembering his old life and what could have been. Kane sums it up best when he says, “If I wouldn't have been such a rich man, I could have been a great man.” The very end of the movie is again a dissolve shot, showing Rosebud being burned along with all of Mr. Kane’s possessions. This represents the death of Mr. Kane, and how he could have lived a different life, and Rosebud represents the other life he could have had, a happy life.
I think "rosebud" has nothing to do with anything. It was merely a catalyst for the chain of interviews that made up the plot of the story.
There is one problem with this theory though. If "rosebud" is not important, then why did Kane say "rosebud" when he died? And I don't think there is an answer. There is definitely a reason why he says, or else he was just crazy and said it, but I believe the reason why he said it is of no real importance. It is like Edgar Allen Poe's story "The Pit and The Pendulum", in which Poe never describes the contents of the Pit but the contents are what drive the plot. Kane probably had some nostalgic connection to his childhood sled, whether positive or negative, but the precise reason doesn't seem important.
Whatever the reason is for saying Rosebud, I believe that its sole purpose in the film was to force the reporters to interview all of his closest peoples therefore allowing the movie to be shot the way it was.
The name “Rosebud” itself is not nearly as significant as what it represents, but perhaps it is the simplicity of the name that makes it so important. While not necessarily the key to Kane’s life, as the question puts it, the sled (or, rather, its significance) is a critical component of Kane’s personality. Rosebud represents Charles Kane’s childhood, which he lost when he was adopted by Mr. Thatcher. Over time, his obsession with power, influence, and money grew. This change is quite evident, for example, in the scene where he destroys the document outlining the principles of the Inquirer newspaper. Kane’s drive in life is perhaps best described by Jedediah Leland, who says to the investigator, “All he really wanted out of life was love. That's Charlie's story -- it's the story of how he lost it. You see, he just didn't have any to give.” I believe that by trying to gain other people’s love and respect, Kane was trying to create a semblance of the life he might have had without being adopted. When Kane uttered “Rosebud” in his dying breath, it was in a sense his final attempt at reaching what had always been unattainable for him: a normal life.
ReplyDeleteI agree that a lot of his problems stemmed from his childhood, specifically those with his relationships. Rosebud is the one image from his childhood that stays with the audience especially since we do not see much of his experience before he is given away. This image focused on because it is the key to understanding Mr. Kane’s life from his wives to his newspaper. He was always looking for love, but never really found it with either marriage. This could be because he was not really sure what he was looking for as he never had a loving relationship with his parents. Instead of confronting his problems he buries himself in work at the newspaper. He is not willing to make peace with the fact that his mother did not love him the way he wanted her to and that is why he can’t find a loving relationship. It is always hanging over his head and he tries to make sure he is not like that, but in a sense he is. He pushed both wives away to a point of no return. Rosebud is a piece of the jigsaw puzzle because it is the basis for why Kane lived his life the way he did. The end scene of the sled burning sends the message that all of Kane’s relationships eventually ended up in flames so to speak. Whether it was his family, friends, or his wives they all ended with him alone. “Rosebud” was the just the starting point of him being alone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with John that the name ”Rosebud” itself does not necessarily have a strong meaning in the movie, but I believe that the sled does. I think it represents his childhood, when he was happiest. The first scene of the movie has Mr. Kane dying and muttering the word “Rosebud” and dropping the snow globe, but the viewer has no clue what Rosebud is. The first sight of the sled is when Charles Foster Kane was just a young boy playing in the snow in Colorado. He is playing with Rosebud when Mr. Thatcher comes with Charles’ mother and father to tell him that he is going to leave. When Charles leaves with Mr. Thatcher, there is a dissolve shot that lets the viewer see the sled as it gets buried with snow. To me, this represents Charles Foster Kane’s old life being left behind and forgotten. Towards the end of the movie, when Mr. Kane looks into the snow globe after destroying Susan’s room and again mutters “Rosebud”, it signifies a realization that he has, remembering his old life and what could have been. Kane sums it up best when he says, “If I wouldn't have been such a rich man, I could have been a great man.” The very end of the movie is again a dissolve shot, showing Rosebud being burned along with all of Mr. Kane’s possessions. This represents the death of Mr. Kane, and how he could have lived a different life, and Rosebud represents the other life he could have had, a happy life.
ReplyDeleteI think "rosebud" has nothing to do with anything. It was merely a catalyst for the chain of interviews that made up the plot of the story.
ReplyDeleteThere is one problem with this theory though. If "rosebud" is not important, then why did Kane say "rosebud" when he died? And I don't think there is an answer. There is definitely a reason why he says, or else he was just crazy and said it, but I believe the reason why he said it is of no real importance. It is like Edgar Allen Poe's story "The Pit and The Pendulum", in which Poe never describes the contents of the Pit but the contents are what drive the plot. Kane probably had some nostalgic connection to his childhood sled, whether positive or negative, but the precise reason doesn't seem important.
Whatever the reason is for saying Rosebud, I believe that its sole purpose in the film was to force the reporters to interview all of his closest peoples therefore allowing the movie to be shot the way it was.