Characters
I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of pain.
— Saruman • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The speaker claims to have offered a chance to cooperate freely, and says the other party turned it down. Having chosen refusal, they have therefore selected suffering. The line frames a coercive threat as the other's own decision, placing responsibility for the coming pain on them.
Context reviewed