what did Bernstein give Kane's son?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Citizen Kane
earthmanny — 9 years ago(June 22, 2016 08:47 AM)
I think mrs. kane describes it as an "abomination." wth? and just the way kane talked about bernstein stopping by the nursery seemed creepy, somehow. just curious if anyone knows what that was all about.
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Jennie_Portrait — 9 years ago(June 23, 2016 05:26 PM)
People give all sorts of weird gifts. We don't know what he gave perhaps it was an odd doll or stuffed toy. Honestly, if you look at children's toys back then, I am amazed kids didn't have nightmares. I've never seen an antique doll that didn't look scary.
There is no accounting for others opinions. Kane's wife was an elitist snob. Her comment demonstrated that she looked down on Kane's "lower" class friends. Kane's remark showed he was more loyal to his friends and wasn't going to give in to his wife.
Never say never
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HarvSoul — 1 month ago(January 31, 2026 04:08 AM)
In the script and the scene you’re referring to, the "abomination" isn't a single object, but rather Mr. Bernstein's presence and his general taste in gifts that irritates Emily Norton Kane.
While the film doesn't show the gift in a close-up, the screenplay and historical analysis clarify the subtext of that "creepy" nursery visit:
The Gift: Bernstein brings a giant, oversized toy horse (sometimes described as a rocking horse or a wheeled horse) to the nursery.
The "Abomination": Emily refers to Bernstein himself—or the chaotic energy he brings—as a disruption to her aristocratic world. As the niece of the President, she views Bernstein as a "low-class" business associate who doesn't belong in the private, refined quarters of her son. To her, his "diamond-in-the-rough" personality and gaudy gifts are an affront to her social standing.
The "Creepy" Factor: The awkwardness you sensed comes from the clash of two worlds. Bernstein is intensely loyal to Kane and treats the son like "family," but to the cold, distant Emily, he is an intruder. Kane’s dismissive way of talking about Bernstein in the nursery highlights his own growing estrangement from Emily; he uses Bernstein’s presence to needle her and assert his own control over the household.
A Symbol of the Inquirer: Bernstein is the living embodiment of the "yellow journalism" and "common man" energy that Emily hates. Every time he steps into their high-society life, he reminds her that she married a man who prefers the company of scruffy reporters to the elite.
In short: The "abomination" was Emily’s word for the unrefined influence Bernstein had on her son’s upbringing