Why do authors use tension in a story

to make the story more interesting

Authors prefer to build a large amount of tension to keep the readers engaged up until the end of the story.

To build tension:

1. Don't let your characters have what they want.

2. Ask how you can make your character's situation worse.

3. Build flaws and conflict into your setting/story world.

4. Create conflict between your characters.

5. Increase the consequences of failure for the hero.

paine is arguying that they had tried everything before coming to the conclusion that they needed to fight for their freedom.

argument: "every quiet method for peace hath been ineffectual."

claim 1: "our prayers have been rejected with disdain; and only tended to convince us, that nothing flatters vanity, or confirms obstinacy in kings more than repeated petitioning and nothing hath contributed more than that very measure to make the kings of europe absolute."

claim 2: "wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for god’s sake, let us come to a final separation, and not leave the next generation to be cutting throats, under the violated unmeaning names of parent and child."