Andrew Dufresne Wegwerth LA9 Period 1 2/20/23 Language Arts 9 Choice Book Essay The CIA has over 20,000 employees, spies, and assassins. One of them is Mitch Rapp. “American Assassin” by Vince Flynn is a book where a man joins the CIA after his girlfriend"s death in a terrorist attack. This man, “Mitch Rapp” ends up becoming one of, if not the best spy/assassin ever. Rapp rarely uses typical assassination tactics. This makes him a liability but also extremely effective. Rapp has a lot of older and more experienced people around him that constantly say he is the best. The author uses the words of the wiser signpost a few times throughout the story. One way the author uses the words of the wiser signpost is when Rapp finished his first …show more content…
The head of the CIA’s clandestine activities department met with Rapp and talked with him about his first mission. The man reminded him that Rapp made a bad decision that ended up working out. The man also told Rapp that he would cover his tracks and deal with the angry Russians. This signpost example impacts the conflict by making it a little more complex. Rapp had never known that this man existed and now there is someone new. Another example of the words of the wiser is when Rapp’s instructor “Hurley” is talking with him about Rapp’s first mission on his second mission. “Remember, in public, the key is to look natural. That’s why I showed you the shoulder holster technique. That’s why we practice it. You look at your watch and no one thinks twice about it. You’re a guy checking the time. You sit down on the park bench that is close to another guy and someone might notice. Just enough to cause him to think twice, and that's all it might take. The next thing you know, the carabinieri are chasing you down the street shooting you. Trust me, I've been there.”(Flynn 201). Hurley does not like how Rapp …show more content…
One way Flynn uses them again and again signpost is when he emphasizes Rapp's ability to do his job. Rapp and his instructor “Hurley” has a sparring match on the first day and Rapp overwhelmed Hurley with ease. “The boy is a three-time All-American and national champ.” (Flynn 120). Hurley is a grumpy old man that loves being better than everyone else. As Hurley is yelling with his colleagues about how angry he is that Rapp beat him. He is told again and again that Rapp is an outstanding athlete. This will affect the conflict by helping Hurley understand that Rapp is a very good athlete. Another way Flynn uses them again and again signpost is when Rapp tried shooting a handgun. “You’re coachable, kid. Nice work. Let's try this a few more times.” (Flynn 87). While Rapp initially failed to be as precise with the handgun as the other trainees, one instructor stayed behind with Rapp and helped him improve. By the time Rapp is done, He is nearly as good as the other trainees. Later in the book, more people remind Rapp that his shooting ability is remarkable. This will make the conflict more interesting because Rapp now can take out his targets with greater efficiency. Flynn uses the, again and again, signpost to show important parts of the conflict and to show that characters have respect for