plot over view
The story follows a reporters hunt to find the meaning of the protagonists Charles Foster Kane’s last dying words “rosebud” His life begins in a small home living with his mother and father until he is signed off to a better life of wealth and power. He grows up to run news paper companies where he vows to tell the truth to the public. Thoughout the play, Charles spirals into corruption, losing his core values and freinds. He devorces both his wifes and eventually relises the only time he ever knew the meaning of true love was when he was a child loved by his parents. Rosebud was his sled that he used as a child.
Kane has the characteristics of a tragic hero, although being out of normal chronological order. Hubris as a fatal flaw, Kane is arrogant and believes what he says goes, he can control what people think. He is no better or worse morally than normal people, by the mistakes he makes and the pain he feels the audience can understand that he is by no means perfect. Kane experiences a peripeteia (reversal of fortune) as he losses his reputation over having a mistress, he dies in wealth but alone. Before his death, the words “rosebud” show Kanes understanding of the cause of his suffering, this makes us empathise for Kane as the loss of his parents was out of his control. He misses his short childhood and doesn’t know the true meaning of love. Kanes fate was greater than he deserved as ever since he left his parents he was never truely loved. Know one should die alone and Kane was subject to a life of power and control so when he losses companionship, he essentially losses everything. Empathy is induced within the audience as we understand his values of taking care of those in need at his peek. Throughout the film we watch his spiral and loss of control, eventually his death.
The narrative manipulates the structure of the story so that the catharsis experience is heightened for the viewer. The technique of showing Kanes death at the begining of the film draws in audience in to the movie to induce curiosity within the audience and encourage them to guess the meaning of rosebud.
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