“Citizen Kane” is a 1941 American drama film by Orson Welles, its director, co-producer, co-screenwriter, and star. Hailed as one of the greatest films ever made, it follows the life of Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy newspaper magnate, through the perspectives of those who knew him, revealing a complex portrait of a man who sought love and power.
Literary Devices Used in Citizen Kane
“Citizen Kane” is rich with literary devices, each enhancing the storytelling and depth of the film. Here’s a look at ten such devices used in the movie:
Symbolizes Kane’s lost innocence and the simplicity of his childhood.
The use of mirrors in the final scene
Reflects the multiple facets of Kane’s personality and the ultimate fragmentation of his life.
2. Foreshadowing
Movie Scene
Device Example
The opening sequence showing Xanadu’s decrepit state
Foreshadows Kane’s lonely and broken end.
Kane’s declaration of principles when he acquires the New York Inquirer
Sets the stage for his eventual corruption and moral decline.
3. Flashback
Movie Scene
Device Example
The newsreel’s recap of Kane’s life
Provides a retrospective view of his rise and fall.
Interviews with Susan Alexander and Jed Leland
Revisit key moments in Kane’s life from different perspectives.
4. Irony
Movie Scene
Device Example
Kane’s vast wealth and material success juxtaposed with his emotional poverty
Highlights the irony of his unfulfilled personal life.
Kane clapping alone in the opera house after Susan’s poor performance
Illustrates the disparity between his expectations and reality.
5. Metaphor
Movie Scene
Device Example
Kane’s castle-like mansion, Xanadu
Represents his isolation and self-imposed exile from society.
The breaking of the snow globe
Metaphor for the shattering of Kane’s dream and innocence.
6. Allusion
Movie Scene
Device Example
References to real-life figures and events in the newsreel
Allude to the political climate and media influence of the era.
The character of Kane modeled after William Randolph Hearst
Suggests parallels between Kane’s life and Hearst’s.
7. Hyperbole
Movie Scene
Device Example
Kane’s extravagant lifestyle and palace
Exaggerates his power and ego.
The dramatic aging makeup
Amplifies the passage of time and Kane’s downfall.
8. Personification
Movie Scene
Device Example
Xanadu’s almost human-like eerie presence throughout the film
Embodies Kane’s haunted past.
The Inquirer’s portrayal as a living entity influencing public opinion
Personifies the power of the press.
9. Simile
Movie Scene
Device Example
Kane compared to a “knight at the lists” by one of his colleagues
Likens his ambitious pursuits to medieval quests.
Susan’s singing described as “sounding like a bird”
Critiques her skill in a diminishing yet picturesque way.
10. Oxymoron
Movie Scene
Device Example
Descriptions of Kane as a “well-loved tyrant”
Combines conflicting qualities to highlight the complexity of his character.
Kane’s final moments in a “glorious ruin” of Xanadu
Juxtaposes grandeur with decay.
Character Analysis Through Literary Devices
Character Studies:
In “Citizen Kane,” the characters are richly developed through the use of various literary devices that reveal their traits and complexities. Here’s how these devices play out for the main characters:
His recollections serve to reveal the changes in Kane over the years, highlighting the loss of his idealism.
Character Dynamics:
The relationships between characters in “Citizen Kane” are a driving force behind the narrative, deeply intertwined with the film’s literary devices to enhance the thematic complexity.
Kane and Susan Alexander: Their relationship is marked by power dynamics where Kane’s attempt to shape Susan into an opera star despite her lack of talent reflects his broader desire to manipulate and control his environment, ultimately leading to mutual resentment and despair.
Kane and Jedediah Leland: This friendship illustrates the theme of integrity versus corruption. Leland’s eventual disillusionment with Kane serves as a moral barometer, measuring Kane’s drift from his youthful ideals to his final days of lonely decadence.
Thematic Analysis
“Citizen Kane” explores several deep themes through its use of literary devices. Here’s how some of the primary themes are highlighted:
References to the real-life complexities of media magnate William Randolph Hearst add a layer of historical commentary on the subjective nature of truth in media.
Early scenes of a young, idealistic Kane foreshadow his transformation into a jaded, cynical figure, paralleling the loss of personal innocence with moral decline.
Cinematic Techniques That Enhance Literary Devices
In “Citizen Kane”, the fusion of cinematic and literary techniques creates a unique narrative depth. Here’s how these elements work together:
Allows for multiple elements to be in focus simultaneously, such as the young Kane playing in the snow through the window while his future is being decided inside, deepening the symbolic weight of his lost freedom and innocence.
Showcases scenes like Kane applauding in an empty opera house, where the visual grandeur contrasts starkly with the auditory reality of Susan’s poor performance.
By recounting Kane’s story through flashbacks from different viewpoints, the film challenges the viewer’s perception of truth and memory, enhancing the narrative complexity.
Key Scene Analysis
In “Citizen Kane”, several key scenes leverage both literary and cinematic techniques to contribute profoundly to the film’s overall impact. Here’s a breakdown of these pivotal moments:
Scene Breakdown: The opening shot of Kane’s sprawling, silent estate, shrouded in mist and mystery, sets the tone for the film. It uses symbolism (the imposing castle symbolizing Kane’s isolation) and foreshadowing (the decrepit state hinting at his downfall). The eerie silence juxtaposed with the grandeur visually emphasizes his ultimate loneliness.
Scene Breakdown: This scene, where Kane ambitiously drafts his Declaration of Principles, showcases dramatic irony and foreshadowing. The earnestness in his declaration is contrasted by Leland’s skeptical reaction and the later revelation of Kane’s ethical compromises, highlighting his moral decline.
Scene Breakdown: Susan’s forced opera performance, where Kane claps alone in an otherwise unenthusiastic audience, uses irony to underline Kane’s delusion and desperation. The scene’s framing, focusing on Kane’s alone clapping amidst a sea of silence, enhances the tragic irony of his misguided aspirations for Susan.
Scene Breakdown: The final revelation that ‘Rosebud’ refers to Kane’s childhood sled is a poignant moment of symbolism and irony. The sled, a lost artifact of his happiest memories, symbolizes what he traded for power and prestige. The scene’s slow zoom on the sled burning in Xanadu’s furnace powerfully signifies the destruction of his innocence.
Conclusion
“Citizen Kane” is a masterclass in film narrative, weaving literary devices and cinematic techniques into a rich tapestry that explores the complexities of human nature, the pursuit of power, and the elusive nature of truth and happiness. Through its sophisticated use of symbolism, irony, foreshadowing, and more, the film offers a profound commentary on the American Dream and the paradoxes within.
Interactive Quiz
Test your understanding of the literary devices used in “Citizen Kane” with this quick quiz! 🎬✨
What does the symbol ‘Rosebud’ represent in the film?
A) Kane’s wealth
B) Kane’s lost innocence
C) Kane’s political ambitions
D) Susan’s opera career
Which literary device is used in the scene of Susan’s opera debut?
