In Citizen Kane, who or what is Rosebud?

The following text is taken directly from Wikipedia, and can be found Citizen Kane - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under the section titled Synopsis:


When wealthy media magnate Charles Foster Kane dies, he utters the word "rosebud". An obituary newsreel documents the events in his public life. The producer of the newsreel asks a reporter, Thompson, to find out about Kane's private life and personality, in particular to discover the meaning behind his last word. The reporter interviews the great man's friends and associates, and Kane's story unfolds as a series of flashbacks.

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Despite Thompson's interviews, he is unable to solve the mystery; he concludes that "Rosebud" will remain an enigma. However, the camera pans over workers burning some of Kane's many possessions. One throws an old sled, with the word "Rosebud" painted on it, into the fire – the same sled that Kane was riding as a child the day his mother sent him away. There is a shot of a chimney with black smoke coming out. For the viewer this solves the mystery of what "Rosebud" is.

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Originally Posted by sandilee

In Citizen Kane, who or what is Rosebud?

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Rosebud," the story goes, was actually Hearst's pet name for the clitoris of his mistress Marion Davies...

This fact was discovered by Davies drinking buddy, Kane scriptwriter Herman Mankiewicz...

I thought Rosebud was the sled.

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Originally Posted by DJWalker

Rosebud," the story goes, was actually Hearst's pet name for the clitoris of his mistress Marion Davies....

This fact was discovered by Davies drinking buddy, Kane scriptwriter Herman Mankiewicz....

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While this was Orson Welles and Mankiewicz's dig at Hearst, as the entire movie was, that is a real life supposed "factoid" best left out of this discussion. IN THE MOVIE, Rosebud was indeed the name of the sled. The sled represented the turning point in his life when prior to being sent away, his life had been simple and truly happy.

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Originally Posted by sandilee

In Citizen Kane, who or what is Rosebud?

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Thompson interviews all the personal contacts for Kane, but he is unable to solve the mystery; he concludes that "Rosebud" will remain an enigma. However at the end, the camera pans over workers burning some of Kane's many possessions. One throws an old sled, with the word "Rosebud" painted on it, into the fire – the same sled that Kane was riding as a child the day his mother sent him away. There is a shot of a chimney with black smoke coming out. For the viewer this solves the mystery of what "Rosebud" is.

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Originally Posted by sandilee

In Citizen Kane, who or what is Rosebud?

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ORSON WELLES played rosebud

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Originally Posted by angel4063

ORSON WELLES played rosebud

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This is incorrect angel. Orson Welles played the role of Charles Foster Kane. Rosebud was the name on his sled. Please read the responses prior to your post; they explain it.