Citizen Kane is the story of failure brought about by success - The protagonist, Charles Foster Kane's, success as a public figure is what leads to his failure as a private one.

All of these are examples of the success Kane achieves publicly. He is indeed a success in the material world and becomes a very influential person. However, the success in his material life is what brings his failure in his spiritual and emotional lives. Due to his wealth he becomes an arrogant and egotistic human being. A person for whom real emotion seems impossible. He loses the ability to love or be loved and he can not maintain any private relationships.

Kane becomes a man who is inevitably on his way to a spiritual doom. He emerges as a self-centered man, "the personal note is all there is to it", who is driven solely by his ego, "he didn't believe in anything but Charlie Kane". He lives an arrogant life, tries to buy happiness and thinks that he has all that life has to offer. He tries to buy friends, "That's all you've ever done with everybody. Tried to bribe them."

Everything had to be on his own terms. He places his priorities, no matter how unjust they may be, in front of others. He wants everything done his way. He makes the 'Inquirer' four times in one night so that it can contain what he wants. It is ultimately Kane's inability to love that makes it impossible for him to maintain any close relationships. "Twice married. Twice divorced." His dealings with his wives and friend clearly show his failure as a socially and ethically responsible human being.

His first marriage to Emily Norton ends in divorce because of his continually self-obsessive actions, "There is only one person...whose going to decide...and that's me." We are again struck by his egotism and arrogance when he refuses to give up his mayoral race. In a complete show of indifference towards Emily and his son, he refuses to step down.

In his second marriage to Susan Alexander we see how he forces his ideas on to her. He forces her to continue singing for his sake rather then hers. The need to dominate is clearly exemplified in this relationship. He is drawn to her simplicity, yet through his actions he tries to effect a change in the very traits which initially attracted him. His domineering nature effectively stifles the refreshing naivety he sought in her company. There is no doubt that he has a desire within himself, for self-aggrandisement through her.

Kane's lack of respect or consideration can also be seen in his relationship with Leland, his one-time friend. After many years of friendship, he simply fires Leland just because of the contradicting ideas they hold. Kane brooks no criticism. His idea of a relationship is one in which he dominates terms. He cannot even keep the promise he makes in his 'Declaration of principles' to the public and simply throws it away, labeling it an "antique".

It is quite understandable by the conclusion of the film, that Kane's success as a public figure has had a profound effect on his end result. The wealth had been forced on to him as a child. We are given the impression that the influence of this wealth from a young age has in fact inured him to the possibilities of happiness. He can not relate to others with true emotion because he has been alienated from it for so long. His success does not allow him to treat others fairly and equally. His final abode in Xanadu is symbolic of his life. It is expensive and spectacular, yet it is desolate and lifeless.

In conclusion, Charles Foster Kane is a man whose success as a public figure of enormous wealth leads to his failure to lead a happy and spiritually content life. His traumatic separation from his parents makes him into a person who cannot love because he has been tutored to value wealth and power.

USMAN BADAR