Naturalism in Citizen Kane

Essay by ChickenFeedHigh School, 10th gradeA+, February 2004

download word file, 3 pages 4.2

Citizen Kane expounds on the naturalistic philosophy by showing the hopelessness of a sound marriage, the needless drive for happiness, and the fruitless search for Kane's last word, rosebud. Everything Charles F. Kane does turns out to be disastrous no matter what. His wives leave him because of his love for himself, his wealth does not quench his thirst for more, and the mystery of his last word, rosebud, is never solved. This masterpiece, directed by Orson Welles, truly elaborates on the hopeless things in life.

Kane's marriages always prove to be failures because of the love for himself and the dictation of his wives' lives. He first married the niece of the president of the United States. His marriage was never close because it was permeated with his campaigning for governor. The only time he ever saw his wife was at breakfast where he would talk mainly of himself.

Kane tells Mrs. Kane that since he loves her and gives her everything a person could ever want, she should love him back. After Mrs. Kane is fed up with the lack of attention and the arrogance of her husband, she divorces Kane. Kane's second marriage turns out to be just as futile. Kane only marries Susan, his second wife, because he wants someone to love him (Welles). He demands that she sing and builds her an opera house. Though she hates singing just as much as the audience hates hearing her sing, Kane repeatedly demands that she sings, telling her that she loves to sing. This shows how he dictates the lives of everyone he encounters. While trapped in Kane's palace Xanadu, "Susan is reduced to completing scores of jigsaw puzzles as an escape from the cold and sterile situation that has estranged husband and wife (Citizen Kane "Y...