Editing Finwë and Míriel (section)

=== Important choices ===

Some of Tolkien's drafts of the story describe similarities of character between Fëanor and Míriel. Tolkien calls both of them determined, hardly ever changing their mind once they had said they would do something. In another draft, Tolkien adds that Míriel was both "proud and obdurate"; the mention of pride directly echoes Fëanor's ill-fated oath.{{sfn|Fontenot|2019a}}{{sfn|Fontenot|2019b}}

Tolkien rewrote the tale of Finwë and Míriel several times, as it assumed "an extraordinary importance in [his] later work on ''The Silmarillion''".<ref name="Laws and Customs among the Eldar" group=T/> ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', prepared by [[Christopher Tolkien]] from his father's unpublished writings, only briefly mentions the tale of Finwë and Míriel; Tolkien may have intended to incorporate a fuller version.{{sfn|Kane|2009|pp=77–81}} In Tolkien's works, Elves are immortal, their shades going to the Halls of Mandos after death, and marriage is forever.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1993|pp=209–213}}</ref> Tolkien noted that had Finwë chosen differently, the whole [[history of Middle-earth]] would have changed for the better, thus making his choice a pivotal event in the mythology; it showed the importance Tolkien attached to unbreakable relationships.<ref name="Laws and Customs among the Eldar" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1993|pp=205–271 "Laws and Customs among the Eldar"}}</ref>