The thrill of suspense is a state of uncertainty or emotion that keeps audiences engaged and captivated. It is often accompanied by feelings of anxiety and anticipation. In storytelling, suspense is used to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next. The standard account of suspense suggests that people feel it when they fear a bad outcome, expect a good outcome, and are unsure of what will happen.
However, some people argue that it is impossible for viewers who know the outcome to feel suspenseful. This objection is based on the statement that normal people do not feel suspenseful when they watch a movie for the second time. The view of emotional misidentification holds that viewers may confuse their real fear and anxiety with what they consider suspense. To explain this phenomenon, four theories have been proposed.
However, these theories are not able to explain two additional facts: why people think it is unquestionable that uncertainty is necessary to maintain suspense, and why repeat offenders may still feel suspenseful even though they know the outcome. One explanation for this is that, even though they are familiar with the story, viewers are unaware of the outcome. To create suspense, it is enough to thwart the desire to affect the outcome of an impending event. This can be seen in Florence's story, where she is forced to face the person she has become in her quest for fame.
