what is rosebud in citizen kane

In the classic film Citizen Kane, "Rosebud" is the last word spoken by the protagonist, Charles Kane, on his deathbed at the beginning of the film. The meaning of the word remains a mystery for much of the film, until it is eventually revealed to be the name of Kanes beloved sled from his childhood. Critics have suggested that the word alludes to the last time Kane was truly happy. According to William Randolph Hearst III, Welles himself explained that "in his subconscious, it represented the simplicity, the comfort, above all the lack of responsibility in his home, and also it stood for his mother’s love, which Kane never lost". However, there are also other theories about what "Rosebud" might mean.