The Shibboleth of Fëanor

[Artanis]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

I'll have to think a bit more, but I think I might remain undecided! What do you think, Arty?

I think the Valar made a wrong decision. They erred because they could not face MÃ*riel's willed 'suicide' by her lack of endurance, and the unhappiness of Finwë thereof in Aman. It was not in accordance with the blissful world they wanted. But I think they should have realised that even in Aman there were elements of Arda Marred, and that they could not completely escape its effects.

I also think it was inconsiderate against MÃ*riel not to allow her to return to her body, even if it was with her consent. That was just like a little trick so that Finwë could be able to set the law aside and remarry.

There is imo an open question whether Finwë really loved Indis like he loved MÃ*riel, or if he was just obsessed by his desire of having more children and she was conveniently there with love for him.

ElemmÃ*rë, I think that we cannot jugde whether an action was morally right or wrong by considering the actual consequences of the action in retrospect. We may only take into consideration the facts that were known at the time of the action.