In the film Citizen Kane, Charles Foster Kane's life was summed up in one word, "Rosebud". "Rosebud" had a significant symbolic meaning, which is cited in various scenes throughout the duration of the film. This symbol has a major impact on Charles Foster Kane's life. "Rosebud" makes Citizen Kane a tragedy.
"Rosebud" has a significant symbolic meaning. The term "Rosebud" symbolizes the security, hope and innocence of childhood, something that a man can spend his life seeking to regain. Charles Foster Kane's childhood was cut short when his mother and father relinquished custody of him. In this scene, Charles was seen in the background outside playing in the snow while his parents were inside signing his custody papers. This sight is the last real memory Kane has from his childhood. After his parents relinquished custody of him, Charles Foster Kane moved to the East, where he was cared for by Mr. Thatcher, who lived in the basement of the bank. After this point, Charles was allowed no childhood at all. He would spend the rest of his life trying to get his childhood back.
"Rosebud" was the name of the sled Charles received from his parents the first Christmas that he was living with Mr. Thatcher. It was a brutal reminder of the carefree life he was pried away from so that he could be educated at a school in the East, the reason his mother relinquished custody of him. The sled reminded him of times when he played in the snow and built snowmen, which he no longer did after being placed in Mr. Thatcher's care.
The symbol of "Rosebud" has an enormous impact on Kane's life. This symbolizes something one could never get back - no matter how much money they had. The phrase "Rosebud" also has an impact on Charles Foster Kane's life because throughout his adult life, he had many unfortunate things happen to him, such as him not being loved by anybody, his personal life being made public, and his moral values being overturned.
