# The Eagle — Aesop's Fables character guide

> The Eagle in Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** An Eagle, The Eagle, the Eagle

**First appearance:** 0009-the-dog-and-the-sow

## Snapshot

The sky's sovereign predator, swift and merciless, whose power is matched only by the bitter irony fate reserves for those who rule the air.

## Who they are

The Eagle moves through these fables as the recognized monarch of birds, hunting from lofty rocks and settling disputes with talons rather than argument. Yet his majesty is precarious: an arrow fletched with his own feathers can bring him down, and a small Beetle's grudge can scatter his eggs. He embodies the book's recurring warning that strength, however lofty, is never beyond reach of the weak or the cunning.

## Relationships

### [The Cat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_cat)

_rivalry_

The Cat and the Eagle are natural enemies, with the Eagle preying on small animals and the Cat defending its territory.

### [Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/jupiter)

_professional_

Jupiter employs the Eagle as his messenger and servant, a hierarchical relationship of divine command.

### [The Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_fox)

_rivalry_

The Eagle and the Fox are cunning adversaries, often competing for food or tricking each other.

### [The Cat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_cat)

_rivalry_

The Cat and the Eagle are natural enemies, with the Eagle preying on small animals and the Cat defending its territory.

### [The Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_fox)

_rivalry_

The Eagle and the Fox are cunning adversaries, often competing for food or tricking each other.

## In the story

### [The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-mouse-the-frog-and-the-hawk)

Spies the drowned Mouse, seizes him, and inadvertently captures and eats the Frog as well.

### [The Tortoise and the Eagle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-tortoise-and-the-eagle)

Reluctantly agrees to help the Tortoise fly, but ultimately drops him, leading to the Tortoise's death.

### [The Eagle and His Captor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-eagle-and-his-captor)

Captured, clipped, sold, then freed; shows gratitude to the neighbor who restored his wings.

### [The Peacock and Juno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-peacock-and-juno)

Mentioned by Juno as an example of a creature allotted strength by Fate.

### [The Eagle and the Arrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-eagle-and-the-arrow)

The eagle is shot and killed by an arrow fletched with its own feathers, lamenting the irony of its fate.

### [The Eagle, the Cat, and the Wild Sow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-eagle-the-cat-and-the-wild-sow)

Nests at the top of the tree; falls prey to the Cat's lies and starves.

### [The Eagle and the Cocks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-eagle-and-the-cocks)

The eagle that swoops down from the sky and captures the boastful cock.

### [The Eagle, the Jackdaw, and the Shepherd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-eagle-the-jackdaw-and-the-shepherd)

Observed by the Jackdaw as it successfully carries off a lamb, inspiring the Jackdaw's failed imitation.

### [The Eagle and the Beetle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-eagle-and-the-beetle)

The Eagle ignores the Beetle's warning and eats the hare under its protection, leading to a cycle of revenge.

### [The Eagle and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-eagle-and-the-fox)

Betrays the Fox by stealing her cubs for food, but later suffers divine retribution when her nest burns and her young are eaten.

### [The Serpent and the Eagle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-serpent-and-the-eagle)

Seizes the Serpent but is entangled; freed by a countryman, later repays the favor by saving the man from poison.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_eagle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters