Mise-En-Scene Analysis Of Citizen Kane's Rosebud

The RKO studies 1941 release of Orson Welles, co-writer, and director of, Citizen Kane, and ended up with a film like none other. The plot of Citizen Kane follows a reporter, Mr. Jerry Thompson, as he searches for the meaning behind Mr. Charles Foster Kane's last word, “Rosebud.” As Mr. Thompson makes his way around to the different people in Kane's life he comes upon Mr. Thatchers, guardian of Kane, memoirs. One of the stories found within the pages of Mr. Walter Parks Thatcher's memoirs is that of this particular frame. The scene surrounding this frame is focused on the relinquishing control of the newspaper held by Mr. Charles Foster Kane to Thatcher & Company caused by Kane's depletion of funds caused by the beginning of The Great Depression. In this single frame taken from one of the greatest films the life and struggles of Kane as the mise-en-scene dwarf Kane, while the lighting leaves him in the shadows of the almighty Mr. Thatcher who is seen,

However, there are at least two relatively traceable light sources. The first light source is, obviously, the giant windows that are bringing in daylight. The second source appears to be coming from the left, behind Mr. Bernstein, illuminating Mr. Thatcher and casting Kane's shadow. Of the three men presented in this frame, Mr. Thatcher is easiest to see. This fact could simply be due to the origination of the light sources emphasizing the importance of Mr. Thatcher at this moment in Kane's financial life. Also, Mr. Thatcher's hands, specifically the hand with which he writes with, seems to be emphasized by this light. This would be a subtle way to show the power of the pen, as in this moment the pen is rescuing a man and his business from the depths of The Great Depression. This same light source casts Kane's shadow on the wall behind him making him appear even