Authors

Discussion

　This paper explores Fyodor Dostoevsky's perspective on the ideas of the early Slavophile Aleksey Khomyakov regarding the Slavic question. While ideological parallels between them have been frequently examined—particularly concerning Russia's “redemptive mission” in liberating the Slavic peoples—the role and significance of allusions to Khomyakov's poetry found in Diary of a Writer (1876–1877) remain underexplored. As Mikhail Bakhtin observes, Dostoevsky's use of "another's word" is multifaceted and cannot be reduced to mere agreement with the quoted source. Khomyakov's poetic lines, cited in Diary of a Writer, were reinterpreted and reshaped within Dostoevsky's own narrative context. Equally significant is the consideration of how Khomyakov and his poetry were perceived in Russian society during this era. Dostoevsky’s engagement with Khomyakov’s quotations and allusions represents a critical dialogue with both the poet and the prevailing discourses.

　Particular attention is given to references to Khomyakov’s poem “The Eagle” (1832), which envisions the future unification of all "eagles" (Slavs) under the protection of the powerful "Northern Eagle" (Russia). Following Russia’s defeat in the Crimean War (1856), the Pan-Slavic movement in Russia gained momentum in the latter half of the 19th century. During the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), numerous collections of poems on Slavic themes were published to rally support for the South Slavs. It was during this period that “The Eagle” was repeatedly reprinted, becoming a prominent symbol of Pan-Slavism.

　How did Dostoevsky engage with this symbol? In Diary of a Writer, he articulates Russia's mission to save the Slavs, incorporating allusions to Khomyakov's “The Eagle.” However, Dostoevsky intentionally alters the original poem’s semantic direction. First, he juxtaposes Khomyakov’s messianic “Eagle” with an entirely unrelated eagle figure derived from a Western medieval prophetic text, thereby rendering Khomyakov’s eagle imaginary. Second, the author revisits the image of the "native nest," a symbol of Slavic brotherhood in Khomyakov's poetry, but assigns it a negative connotation. Through this allusion, Dostoevsky suggests that "birds’ nests" are nothing like human families and that this metaphor could diminish the independence of the Slavic peoples, portraying them as mere "chicks."

　Thus, Dostoevsky identified the risks posed by Pan-Slavists who sought to apply Khomyakov’s poetic visions to political realities.  By analyzing Dostoevsky's artistic methods alongside the social role of Khomyakov’s poetry, we gain a fresh understanding of Dostoevsky’s dialogic relationship with Khomyakov.