Citizen Kane – The Emotional Manipulation

Katherine Duke

Philosophy of Film

Dr. Langguth

5 May 2014

Citizen Kane – The Emotional Manipulation

            The movie Citizen Kane is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time. Its beautiful cinematography and captivating plot are just a few of its best qualities. It is interesting that so many people feel so strongly about the movie and have felt such an emotional connection with the characters after viewing it.

            According to Carroll, feeling emotional responses relies largely on sympathy. That is to say, because sympathy is directed at others and because it is a supportive response, sympathy is often what causes an emotional bond with characters. This means that the viewer feels the inclined towards benevolent action, an impulse that one may feel more freely due to the assurance that it is a feeling one need not act upon since it is toward a fictional character.

            This feeling of sympathy towards Kane is established near the beginning of the movie when the viewer is informed of the difficult childhood Kane had. According to the movie, Kane was sent away from his family at a very young age and raised by a banker and a board of trustees. He is portrayed to have had a lonely childhood and to have been denied one of the few things he truly wanted, his sled Rosebud.

            This show of vulnerability and unhappiness makes the viewer feel sympathy for Kane as a child, which translates into feeling sympathy for Kane as a grown adult. This causes an emotional connection with Kane that carries throughout the film, and is sustained through various instances that cause additional waves of sympathy.

            For example, the movie refers several times to his failed political career, which we discover is due to the blackmailing of Kane by another man. The flashback containing this information continues to elicit a sympathetic response from the audience, illustrating the two unhappy marriages Kane has throughout his life.

            Additionally, throughout the entire film we know that Kane dies, as is shown in the opening scene, alone in his giant mansion. We later learn that Kane built this mansion in an attempt to create a place of sheer bliss; a dream which we learn would never come true. He was alone and unhappy, surrounded by his many belongings and his staff, who was more interested in his money than his welfare. This causes the audience to agonize over the fact that, according to all of the evidence, Kane dies unhappy and alone, wishing for someone or something called “rosebud”. How could one not feel sympathy for such a man?

            According to Carroll, sympathy is perceived to be an emotion and causes the viewer to feel distress when a character is distressed, as well as relief and satisfaction when the character is safe and/or happy. Citizen Kane does not give the viewer this satisfaction in the end. The audience is left knowing that Kane did not ever receive many of the things he sought in life, and if he died happy, the viewers are never given any indication of it.

This causes a lack of emotional closure, which leaves the viewer unhappy and emotional. This causes the audience to carry their perceived emotions with them as they leave the movie, polarizing the reviews of the viewers. Some decide to love the movie and others choose to despise it. Ultimately, the movie has made an impact on those who have watched it, which is one of the key elements to a successful film. In reality, this unrelieved sense of sympathy may be the reason for the success of the film with such a wide variety of audiences.

Whether one leaves Citizen Kane adoring it or loathing it, the emotional manipulation of the movie is very real to viewers. Through the use of sympathy-inducing images and plot-points, this movie connects with the audience and causes them to feel some of Kane’s anguish and loneliness. Through this—for lack of better word—emotional connection, the movie Citizen Kane leaves audience members wishing they could have comforted Kane in his last moments, placing Rosebud at his side on his deathbed.