The Nature Of Ego In Orson Welles's 1941 Film Citizen Kane

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The nature of ego is a fundamental concept in Orson Welles’ 1941 film ‘Citizen Kane’. Through presenting the life of Charles Foster Kane, Welles explores how time and place are critical in the development of an individual’s ego. The ideas of childhood and adulthood life and Kane’s need for control in his public and private environment assist in shaping audience’s understanding of the nature of ego. Essentially, Welles uses Kane’s life to explore how time and place are crucial elements to consider when exploring the nature of ego. The notion of time is used by Welles to explore the desire and development associated with the nature of ego in the life of Charles Kane. Through juxtaposing the scope of control Kane had in his childhood and adulthood life, Kane explores the ways in which his ego has developed. In the flashback to Kane’s childhood, he is positioned in the background playing in the snow by himself. Through the deep-focus on Mrs. Kane signing Charles over to Mr. Thatcher in the foreground, Welles represents the lack of control Kane had in his childhood. Furthermore, the mid-shot of Charlie holding his sled and the three adults looking down on him represent the control his parents and Mr. Thatcher have over him. This is further emphasised in the overlapping, fast-paced dialogue, with the close-up of Charles’ worried face in the foreground symbolising his discontent with the decisions taken by his parents. The act of Charles pushing Mr. Thatcher away with his sled, “rosebud” his favourite childhood possession, further represents his desire to preserve/protect his childhood. However, at the conclusion of the …show more content…

Through exploring the public and private life of Kane, as it transitions from childhood to adulthood, Welles allows for audiences to understand the universal concept of

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