Míriel

Míriel Serindë, often referred to simply as Míriel, is a figure in J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium. She is a Noldorin Elf of the house of Finwë, the wife of Finwë, and the mother of Fëanor, one of the most renowned (and controversial) craftmasters of the Noldor.

Little is told of her life beyond her role as Finwë’s wife and Fëanor’s mother. In the narratives of the Silmarillion, Míriel dies in childbirth, shortly after Fëanor’s birth. Her death is presented as a sorrowful and defining event for Finwë, shaping the early history of the Noldor in Aman.

In the aftermath of Míriel’s death, Finwë marries Indis, a Vanyar princess, who bears Fingolfin and Finarfin. This union helps to establish the next generation of Noldorin rulers, and Míriel’s absence influences the emotional and political dynamics of the elder House of Finwë as the Noldor prepare for the later migrations and trials described in the legends.

Míriel’s story is primarily a brief but pivotal note in the broader tale of the Silmarillion: through her, Tolkien explains the origins of Fëanor and the subsequent divisions and ambitions within the Noldor. Her name and memory appear mainly as context for the early lineage of Finwë and the shaping of the coming generations of Elves in Valinor.

See also: Fëanor, Finwë, Indis. Source: The Silmarillion (and related writings compiled by Christopher Tolkien).