Pale Fire: Illustrated Sports Illustrated Sports Pale Fire Journal | Page 83

writes has intentional meaning, it begs the question, why would he write two characters who both carry an affinity for books and literature? Also, in the com- mentary section of the novel, it is acknowledged that Hazel and Kinbote both have the same habit of twisting words. From lines 347-348 of the poem, Shade states, “She twisted words”. Kinbote then comments on that line, referencing a conversation that he had with Shade: “I am quite sure it was I who one day, when we were discussing ‘mirror words,’ observed (and I recall the poet’s expres- sion of stupefaction) that ‘spider’ in reverse is ‘redips’ and ‘T.S. Eliot,’ ‘toilest’. But then it is also true that Hazel Shade resembled me in certain respects” (193). Word twisting, a characteristic more specific than just loving literature, is ap- plied to both Kinbote and Hazel, which is strong evidence that reveals that Kin- bote and Hazel could be the same person. Also, there is some evidence for Hazel being the potential fictional author of a piece of this novel, or the entire thing. When acknowledging a potential ghost that used to haunt Shade’s old house when Hazel was a young girl, Kinbote’s commentary recognizes, “… all kinds of knockings, especially in the sanctuary would rouse Hazel from her, no doubt, peaceful sleep in the adjacent bedroom” (165). Unless Kinbote was there when this event happened, how would he know all of this specific information about Hazel’s ‘no doubt, peaceful sleep’, the knockings happening often in the sanctu- ary, and the fact that Hazel’s room was just adjacent to the sanctuary, unless it was actually Hazel writing the commentary as Kinbote. Announcer 2: Those are some solid post season stats from All in a Haze Work! Let’s move onto the charts for team number 3: Pair Pressure. There are many different characters in this text who often tend to form paired relationships with one and other (Pair Pressure). 83