Summary
The novel Act of Treason begins weeks before the presidential inauguration, in a race that was filled with far more excitement than usual. Stories of fraud and cheating, along with other political corruption, make their way through the media and every reporter looking for a good story. In the middle of this unprecedented election, with many crazy and untruthful stories floating around, the President elect's wife is killed in a car bomb. This kicks off a frenzy to hunt down the killer and everyone who was involved. This is when the main character, Mitch Rapp who is a ruthless assassin for the CIA, gets involved and starts killing every terrorist and corrupt politician that stands in his way.
As Rapp starts to unravel the mystery of how the President elect's wife was killed, he learns the truth about the entire situation. It turns out it was only terrorists that set off the bomb, but corrupt politicians trying to remain in power were the ones pulling all of the strings. This leaves Rapp with an extremely tough decision to make, as whether or not to bring down the entire network of corruption or stay out of it and live a peaceful life. He cannot resist the mission, and starts killing and torturing every domestic terrorist he can find.
After taking out the head guy of the operation, Rapp begins to take heat for doing his job in an unethical and unlawful manner. He argues he had no other option other than to torture the terrorist in order to get vital information out of him that could save lives. Many don't agree and feel he should be thrown in jail until he presents evidence against him that clears his name of any wrongdoing. Order is restored and everyone is happy agian knowing murderers have been taken off of the street.
As Rapp starts to unravel the mystery of how the President elect's wife was killed, he learns the truth about the entire situation. It turns out it was only terrorists that set off the bomb, but corrupt politicians trying to remain in power were the ones pulling all of the strings. This leaves Rapp with an extremely tough decision to make, as whether or not to bring down the entire network of corruption or stay out of it and live a peaceful life. He cannot resist the mission, and starts killing and torturing every domestic terrorist he can find.
After taking out the head guy of the operation, Rapp begins to take heat for doing his job in an unethical and unlawful manner. He argues he had no other option other than to torture the terrorist in order to get vital information out of him that could save lives. Many don't agree and feel he should be thrown in jail until he presents evidence against him that clears his name of any wrongdoing. Order is restored and everyone is happy agian knowing murderers have been taken off of the street.
Essay
Overview: Selfish and unwanted characteristics are shown through power hungry politicians that are on display in Act of Treason by Vince Flynn, where the main character, Mitch Rapp, is tasked with ridding America of corruption. Act of Treason, much like the United States, is immersed in media corruption and false stories, has elections that are not trusted by its people, and is full of people rising to power by bullying their way to the top.
Act of Treason Essay
Corruption and its presence are seen around the world in many forms, and can be found in nearly every nation’s government. Pushed forth by greed or lust for power, there is always someone willing to break laws and harm innocent people to ensure they remain atop their country. These selfish and unwanted characteristics are shown through power hungry politicians that are on display in Act of Treason by Vince Flynn, where the main character, Mitch Rapp, is tasked with ridding America of corruption. In this novel are many situations and events similar to that of the real world and America. Act of Treason, much like the United States, is immersed in media corruption and false stories, has elections that are not trusted by its people, and is full of people rising to power by bullying their way to the top.
In a world that is as technologically advanced as the United States, rumors tend to spread quickly. As Vince Flynn points out in his novel, “rumors spread quicker in Washington, D.C., than any other city in the world. There were so many reporters, so many political hacks on both sides of the aisle and far too many people who strived to prove their self-worth by acting like they were in the know”(307). Reporters in this novel, similarly to reporters in real-life, tend to jump the gun and present stories even if they don’t have quite all the facts necessary for ensuring that story is truthful. People feel being the first to report gives them a higher value as a journalist, leading to premature views on events and other misleading information. When this type of reporting is taking place, it leaves “political hacks” with the ability to impose their will into the news, allowing the media to not only become corrupt but untrusted as well.
Election integrity is a common theme in both the world today, and this novel by Vince Flynn. Throughout the novel talks of politicians cheating the system to put their buddies or themselves in office causes worry among the country. It is laughed about by these politicians as if it is no trouble at all to ensure someone becomes president, a congressman, or any office all the way down the line, so long as that person endorses them. One greedy and power hungry politician in Act of Treason makes it seem as if he can have someone put in office at his will so that incriminating information on him will not be leaked. He says, “‘Tell the prosecutor in New York she can have any job she wants. Hell… I’ll make her the next senator from wherever the hell it is that she’s from. I don’t care what [I] have to do’”(434). This displays both arrogance and fear of politicians in the novel. They think they are so powerful that they can put whoever they want in office, and will commit these cowardly actions out of fear of their own political failure. This creates a sense of distrust throughout this society and truly shines a light on the type of people that become high ranking politicians and how they got there.
Members of government seem to all have similar approaches to gaining their positions of office. A passage from Vince Flynn’s novel refers to a former politician in the United States when describing them as a whole within his novel. He recognizes a specific attitude that leads to a person gaining power when he states that, “He remembered a fellow Democrat criticizing the old Bull Moose president [Teddy Roosevelt] for being a bully. Ross responded by telling him, ’bully or not, his face is on Mount Rushmore.’ History favored the decisive. Those who weren’t afraid to grab power and use it”(343). These types of people were not scared to hurt people and their feelings in order to gain power and take advantage of it. This quote also implies that gaining political prowess may only be possible if someone bullies or takes advantage of another. Like the author argues, history has proven that those who are decisive and a bit of a bully are successful in the political business. Those who are not are likely to fail.
Many politicians' desire for power overrides their sense of kindness and respect for the American population, as described in Act of Treason. Innocent people are harmed, and criminals are rewarded. There is little trust in the media, and most branches of the government. Fixing this problem then becomes a vital question. Vince Flynn narrates how he would fix the problem by using Mitch Rapp to embed fear into corrupt politicians. Maybe Flynn’s approach should be considered when dealing with real-world situations as well.
Corruption and its presence are seen around the world in many forms, and can be found in nearly every nation’s government. Pushed forth by greed or lust for power, there is always someone willing to break laws and harm innocent people to ensure they remain atop their country. These selfish and unwanted characteristics are shown through power hungry politicians that are on display in Act of Treason by Vince Flynn, where the main character, Mitch Rapp, is tasked with ridding America of corruption. In this novel are many situations and events similar to that of the real world and America. Act of Treason, much like the United States, is immersed in media corruption and false stories, has elections that are not trusted by its people, and is full of people rising to power by bullying their way to the top.
In a world that is as technologically advanced as the United States, rumors tend to spread quickly. As Vince Flynn points out in his novel, “rumors spread quicker in Washington, D.C., than any other city in the world. There were so many reporters, so many political hacks on both sides of the aisle and far too many people who strived to prove their self-worth by acting like they were in the know”(307). Reporters in this novel, similarly to reporters in real-life, tend to jump the gun and present stories even if they don’t have quite all the facts necessary for ensuring that story is truthful. People feel being the first to report gives them a higher value as a journalist, leading to premature views on events and other misleading information. When this type of reporting is taking place, it leaves “political hacks” with the ability to impose their will into the news, allowing the media to not only become corrupt but untrusted as well.
Election integrity is a common theme in both the world today, and this novel by Vince Flynn. Throughout the novel talks of politicians cheating the system to put their buddies or themselves in office causes worry among the country. It is laughed about by these politicians as if it is no trouble at all to ensure someone becomes president, a congressman, or any office all the way down the line, so long as that person endorses them. One greedy and power hungry politician in Act of Treason makes it seem as if he can have someone put in office at his will so that incriminating information on him will not be leaked. He says, “‘Tell the prosecutor in New York she can have any job she wants. Hell… I’ll make her the next senator from wherever the hell it is that she’s from. I don’t care what [I] have to do’”(434). This displays both arrogance and fear of politicians in the novel. They think they are so powerful that they can put whoever they want in office, and will commit these cowardly actions out of fear of their own political failure. This creates a sense of distrust throughout this society and truly shines a light on the type of people that become high ranking politicians and how they got there.
Members of government seem to all have similar approaches to gaining their positions of office. A passage from Vince Flynn’s novel refers to a former politician in the United States when describing them as a whole within his novel. He recognizes a specific attitude that leads to a person gaining power when he states that, “He remembered a fellow Democrat criticizing the old Bull Moose president [Teddy Roosevelt] for being a bully. Ross responded by telling him, ’bully or not, his face is on Mount Rushmore.’ History favored the decisive. Those who weren’t afraid to grab power and use it”(343). These types of people were not scared to hurt people and their feelings in order to gain power and take advantage of it. This quote also implies that gaining political prowess may only be possible if someone bullies or takes advantage of another. Like the author argues, history has proven that those who are decisive and a bit of a bully are successful in the political business. Those who are not are likely to fail.
Many politicians' desire for power overrides their sense of kindness and respect for the American population, as described in Act of Treason. Innocent people are harmed, and criminals are rewarded. There is little trust in the media, and most branches of the government. Fixing this problem then becomes a vital question. Vince Flynn narrates how he would fix the problem by using Mitch Rapp to embed fear into corrupt politicians. Maybe Flynn’s approach should be considered when dealing with real-world situations as well.
Favorite Quote
"Bully or not his face is still on Mount Rushmore. History favored the decisive. Those who weren't afraid to grab power and use it"(343).
A person who doesn't hesitate when making decisions will gain power and have a strong voice. Those who are cautious and timid when making decisions never become strong leaders, like Roosevelt who is being referred to in the passage..
The character that it takes to be a leader and a person in a position of power caused this quote to stand out to me. To be a powerful person, it takes being a little bit of a "bully." Those who are not become pushovers and have a much harder time being successful in that line of work.
The character that it takes to be a leader and a person in a position of power caused this quote to stand out to me. To be a powerful person, it takes being a little bit of a "bully." Those who are not become pushovers and have a much harder time being successful in that line of work.
Themes
Corruption
Many people are killed for extremely unnecessary reasons, all because of corrupt politicians greed and hunger for power. They will get into a position of power even if it means selling their country out to foreign nations and killing innocent people in the process.
Vengeance
Mitch Rapp's purpose for killing bad people and being a part of the CIA is driven by his desire to kill every person involved with the murder of his wife. He will do whatever it takes to take from terrorists what they took from him.
Mental Health
Throughout the novel Rapp deals with memories from his past that he cannot shake. They are eating him up inside, but he refuses to seek help. Not taking many people's advice to get help interferes with Rapp's work, and is constantly proving that he will continue to be hindered by his own actions if he does not take his mental health seriously.