The motif of the sled is quite significant, not only in this sequence but throughout the course of the film. ‘Rosebud’ is Mr. Kane’s last word on his deathbed and the film’s plot is based around uncovering the meaning of this peculiar word. The mystery is finally put to rest at the end of the film when Kane’s childhood sled inscribed with the word ‘Rosebud’ is thrown into a furnace. In the ‘Thatcher taking young Charles’ scene, the sled acts as a visual metaphor of Kane’s childhood. He is seen playing with it while the snow’s whiteness as the background reinforces the idea of childhood innocence. When Kane is presented with the proposition of being taken away from his parents, he uses the sled as a weapon which in turn, serves as a portrayal
