Organization of Noldor Elf Society 
The Organization of Noldor Elf Society
The Noldor Elves are a hardworking, intelligent people with a tendency to become very set in their ways. The Noldor Elves tend to be led primarily by male figures, we see this theme throughout “The Silmarillion” starting with Finwë, who led the Noldor into Valinor. Despite the presence of prominent male figures, the Noldor society treats the two genders equally. (Tolkien, 1993, 213) Women partake in many of the same activities as men; for example, we know that Aredhel went horse riding and hunting with her brothers. (Tolkien, 1999, 60) Although elven-women have a tendency to lean towards healing and men towards fighting there is “less difference in strength and speed between elven-men and elven-women . . . than is seen among mortals.” (Tolkien, 1993, 213) Some of the only tasks that appear to be gender specific are the baking of bread and the preparation of most other food. Women are responsible for baking the bread, and men for all other food. (Tolkien, 1993, 214)
Marriage is very sacred to the Noldor people, when Finwë made the decision to marry Indis his son Fëanor was very upset and not because Finwë was marrying a Vanyar, the intermarriage of different elvish races was fairly common, but because a second marriage was almost unheard of. (Tolkien, 1999, 65) Typically the Noldor only fall in love and marry once in a lifetime (Tolkien, 1993, 214), in the case of Finwë a remarriage was particularly controversial because there was still a small possibility that Miriel could be released from Mandos. Fëanor was so displeased by his father’s remarriage that he lived separate from the rest of his father’s new family. (Tolkien, 1999, 65)
The wearing of jewelry is an important part of marriages in the Noldor culture. When a couple was subject to an arranged marriage the pair would give one another silver rings, and after a year should the couple fall in love and choose not return the rings they would be
The Noldor Elves are a hardworking, intelligent people with a tendency to become very set in their ways. The Noldor Elves tend to be led primarily by male figures, we see this theme throughout “The Silmarillion” starting with Finwë, who led the Noldor into Valinor. Despite the presence of prominent male figures, the Noldor society treats the two genders equally. (Tolkien, 1993, 213) Women partake in many of the same activities as men; for example, we know that Aredhel went horse riding and hunting with her brothers. (Tolkien, 1999, 60) Although elven-women have a tendency to lean towards healing and men towards fighting there is “less difference in strength and speed between elven-men and elven-women . . . than is seen among mortals.” (Tolkien, 1993, 213) Some of the only tasks that appear to be gender specific are the baking of bread and the preparation of most other food. Women are responsible for baking the bread, and men for all other food. (Tolkien, 1993, 214)
Marriage is very sacred to the Noldor people, when Finwë made the decision to marry Indis his son Fëanor was very upset and not because Finwë was marrying a Vanyar, the intermarriage of different elvish races was fairly common, but because a second marriage was almost unheard of. (Tolkien, 1999, 65) Typically the Noldor only fall in love and marry once in a lifetime (Tolkien, 1993, 214), in the case of Finwë a remarriage was particularly controversial because there was still a small possibility that Miriel could be released from Mandos. Fëanor was so displeased by his father’s remarriage that he lived separate from the rest of his father’s new family. (Tolkien, 1999, 65)
The wearing of jewelry is an important part of marriages in the Noldor culture. When a couple was subject to an arranged marriage the pair would give one another silver rings, and after a year should the couple fall in love and choose not return the rings they would be