Apollon Grigoryev and "Russkaya beseda": on the idea of predatory and humble types

In this article, the author considers the views on Slavophilism of the well-known literary critic, Russian thinker, and one of the apologists of Pochvennichestvo, Apollon Grigorʹyev. Te author analyzes Grigorʹyev’s review of N. Gilyarov-Platonov’s article «Semeynaya Khronika i Vospominaniya S. Aksakova» (“Family Chronicle and Reminiscences of S. Aksakov”), which was published in the Slavophile journal Russkaya Beseda. In this article, Gilyarov-Platonov characterizes the works of well- known Russian writers and points out that positive character types are absent from their works. He identifies literary characters that are depicted “with compassion”, but also do not present any positive ideals. One example is Maksim Maksimych from Mikhail Lermontov’s novel A Hero of our Time. Grigorʹyev subsequently relied on Gilyarov-Platonov’s article, connecting the character Maksim Marksimych with the literary views of the Slavophiles. Te author establishes that this publication provided the initial material for Grigorʹyev’s concept of «predatory» and «humble» types. Te author considers this concept from various approaches: literary, philosophical, political and religious