Artwork depicting Hurin and Huor’s arrival in Gondolin drawn by Alan Lee

The Great Eagles in Tolkien’s works are often regarded as a large plot hole within the narrative, especially when it comes to The Lord of the Rings. If you have read the books or even seen the movies, then you know what I’m talking about. The oft raised question of “Why didn’t the fellowship just fly to Morder to destroy the Ring?” became especially prominent after Peter Jackson’s trilogy was released. And the answer to that question isn’t “Because it’s a plot hole,” and here’s why.

Firstly, the Eagles aren’t a plot hole because Tolkien himself addressed the issue. In a letter ot Forrest J. Ackerman he mentions his use of the Eagles: “The Eagles are a dangerous machine. I have used the sparingly, and that is the absolute limit of their credibility or usefulness.” Tolkien knew the danger of using the Eagles in his work and used them as little as possible.

Thorondor and Fingolfin by Alan Lee

If you don’t want to take the word of the author, or might just think he’s arguing the opposite to avoid controversy, then maybe you’ll take the word of one of the Eagles himself. When Gandalf has the assistance of Gwaihir in escaping Isengard Gandalf asks Gwaihir how far he can be carried. Gwaihir responds by saying ” Not to the ends of the earth. I was sent to bear tidings, not burdens.” Gwaihir’s response isn’t a specific answer to our question, but it is an answer nonetheless. It can be assumed from this passage that carrying someone costs the Eagles much energy, and cannot be done indefinitely. In the places that we see them carry people it is for short stints, not long journeys. Yes they could have taken rest along the journey, but that isn’t the only reason that the Eagles prefer to avoid being beasts of burden. In The Hobbit the Eagles express concern about carrying Thorin’s company into “the lands of Men” for fear of their bows. They have much more cause to fear Sauron and his Orcs, who are much more cruel than the men that the Eagles feared. Not to mention the Nazgul and their Fellbeasts are more than likely a match for the Eagles, having them carry the Fellowship to Morder could have ended disasterously.

The Eagles save Frodo and Sam from Mount Doom

The third, and perhaps the biggest, reason why the Eagles shouldn’t be considered a plot hole, is that they are intelligent, free-thinking beings, not pets. The Eagles are the messengers of Manwe, the Lord of the Valar. A discussion on who the Valar are is a topic unto itself, best left for later discussion. Let’s just say that the Valar are the gaurdians of the world for now. The Eagles were sent by Manwe to watch over Middle-Earth and its inhabitants. It can be assumed that the Eagles were under similar restrictions as their Istari, or wizards, counterparts. The wizards, including Gandalf, were sent to help and inspire the people of Middle-Earth in their fight against Sauron. The wizards are Maiar spirits, and Sauron is also a Maia, but even though the are in a sense equals, the wizards were forbidden to challenge Sauron directly, power for power. They were instead to inspire the people of Middle-Earth to solve their own problems, and it seems likely that the Eagles were under the same mandate. Carrying the Ring to Mordor would be directly challenging Sauron’s power, something that they are seemingly forbidden to do. They can assist, not do for, and that, I think, is the real reason why they wouldn’t directly interefere.

The Eagles of Manwe by Ted Nasmith

The final reason why the Eagles aren’t a plot hole, and even if they were, is that if they were used in the way people suggest, then there wouldn’t be any character development and we wouldn’t get to see the growth of Frodo and Sam, not to mention Merry and Pippin. Even setting the character growth aside, if the Eagles were employed, there wouldn’t be much of a story to tell and the bits that were still told would be quite boring. Anyone thinking the Fellowship should have flown to Mordor should think how short the book or movie would have been with the Eagles’ intervention. It just doesn’t make for a good and entertaining story.