Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of American Assassin
    Adventure FictionPolitical FictionThriller

    American Assassin

    by Flynn, Vince
    “American Assassin” by Vince Flynn is a gripping thriller that introduces Mitch Rapp, a highly skilled counterterrorism operative. The novel follows Rapp’s recruitment and training by the CIA after a personal tragedy fuels his desire for vengeance. Tasked with infiltrating and dismantling terrorist networks, Rapp’s relentless pursuit of justice highlights themes of patriotism, revenge, and moral ambiguity. Flynn’s meticulous research and fast-paced narrative offer a realistic portrayal of covert operations, making it a standout in the espionage genre. The book’s significance lies in its exploration of the psychological toll of warfare and the complexities of modern counterterrorism efforts.
    PreviousNext
    American Assassin

    Chapter 40

    by Flynn, Vince

    In Chap­ter 40 of *Amer­i­can Assas­sin*, Mitch Rapp and Hur­ley con­front Dorf­man, a banker sus­pect­ed of aid­ing ter­ror­ists, in a tense inter­ro­ga­tion. Rapp threat­ens Dorfman’s poo­dle with a knife, exploit­ing the man’s emo­tion­al attach­ment to force him to open a hid­den safe. Dorf­man relents, reveal­ing Nazi mem­o­ra­bil­ia and finan­cial doc­u­ments link­ing him to ter­ror­ist activ­i­ties. Despite Dorfman’s claims of being a mere busi­ness­man, Hur­ley exe­cutes him, empha­siz­ing the grav­i­ty of his crimes. The duo secures the evi­dence and departs for Zurich, hint­ing at fur­ther mis­sions tied to finan­cial net­works sup­port­ing ter­ror­ism.

    The chap­ter shifts to Moscow, intro­duc­ing Ivanov, a cor­rupt SVR offi­cer who lever­ages his posi­tion for per­son­al gain. Fresh from a lucra­tive deal involv­ing nat­ur­al gas con­tracts, Ivanov reflects on the par­al­lels between post-Sovi­et Rus­sia and *The God­fa­ther*, where pow­er and cor­rup­tion inter­twine. He prides him­self on cut­ting through bureau­crat­ic inef­fi­cien­cies for for­eign investors, demand­ing a 10% stake in their ven­tures as pay­ment. Ivanov jus­ti­fies his actions as pro­tect­ing Russia’s resources, though his motives are clear­ly self-serv­ing.

    Ivanov’s world is depict­ed as a chaot­ic blend of oppor­tunism and rem­nants of Sovi­et dys­func­tion. He nav­i­gates a land­scape where courts, police, and secu­ri­ty ser­vices are cor­rupt, and only those with con­nec­tions thrive. His dis­dain for “Jew lawyers” and young busi­ness­men under­scores his arro­gance. Ivanov’s assis­tant, Shvets, attends to his needs, reveal­ing the former’s hang­over and irri­ta­ble mood. Despite his dis­com­fort, Ivanov remains focused on con­sol­i­dat­ing pow­er, order­ing Shvets to pre­pare con­tracts for his lat­est deal.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with Ivanov plan­ning his next move, hint­ing at an upcom­ing oper­a­tion in Beirut. His ruth­less effi­cien­cy and cyn­i­cal world­view paint him as a for­mi­da­ble antag­o­nist, con­trast­ing with Rapp’s moral­ly ambigu­ous tac­tics. The nar­ra­tive under­scores themes of cor­rup­tion, pow­er, and the blurred lines between jus­tice and vengeance, set­ting the stage for esca­lat­ing con­flicts in both sto­ry­lines.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. How does Rapp manipulate Dorfman into opening the safe, and what does this reveal about Dorfman’s priorities?

      Answer:
      Rapp uses psychological torture by threatening to harm Dorfman’s poodle with a knife, feigning intent to pierce its eye. This extreme tactic exploits Dorfman’s emotional attachment to the dog, as he relents and opens the safe only when the threat becomes imminent. The scene reveals Dorfman prioritizes his dog over his own safety or loyalty to his clients—highlighting a moral contradiction where he aids terrorists yet shows compassion for an animal. Rapp’s muttered observation (“You care more about that damn dog than your wife”) underscores this hypocrisy, emphasizing Dorfman’s skewed values (Chapter 40).

      2. Analyze Hurley’s justification for killing Dorfman after obtaining the files. How does this reflect the operatives’ moral code?

      Answer:
      Hurley executes Dorfman with a cold declaration—”I’m only doing my job”—after confirming the banker knowingly facilitated terrorist finances. This act reflects a utilitarian moral code: Dorfman’s death is framed as necessary to prevent future harm, despite the brutality. The Nazi insignia found in the safe further dehumanizes Dorfman, allowing Hurley to rationalize the killing as justice. However, Rapp’s hesitation (not raising his gun immediately) hints at internal conflict, contrasting Hurley’s ruthlessness. Their dynamic illustrates the tension between operational pragmatism and personal ethics in counterterrorism (Chapter 40).

      3. Compare Ivanov’s view of post-Soviet Russia to the themes in The Godfather. How does he perceive his role in the new economy?

      Answer:
      Ivanov likens modern Russia to The Godfather, describing it as a corrupt, dynamic landscape where power and profit intersect. He critiques Soviet inefficiency (e.g., unqualified officials stifling talent) but embraces the new “Wild West” capitalism as an opportunity to exploit systemic corruption. As an SVR officer, he positions himself as a fixer—using state connections to broker deals for foreign investors while demanding a 10% stake. His self-justification (“far more deserving than some business-school graduate”) mirrors mafia logic, blending patriotism with personal greed. This parallels Coppola’s portrayal of power as a web of loyalty and exploitation (Chapter 40).

      4. What strategic purpose does the Zurich mission serve, based on Hurley’s comment about “money and assholes”?

      Answer:
      Hurley’s cryptic remark—”money and assholes”—implies Zurich is another hub of financial corruption akin to Dorfman’s operations. The team’s urgency (“sunrise” deadline) suggests they’re disrupting a terrorist funding network by targeting complicit bankers. The phrase also reflects their cynical worldview: Zurich symbolizes global complicity, where greed enables terrorism. By seizing records in Dorfman’s safe (files, hard drives), they likely uncovered leads pointing to Zurich-based collaborators. This continuity underscores the narrative’s theme: counterterrorism requires dismantling financial systems as ruthlessly as combatting militants (Chapter 40).

      5. Evaluate the symbolism of the Nazi artifacts in Dorfman’s safe. How do they influence Rapp and Hurley’s actions?

      Answer:
      The SS dagger and insignia serve as moral shorthand, equating Dorfman’s collaboration with terrorists to Nazi ideology. For Hurley, these items validate Dorfman’s execution—he brands him a “Nazi prick,” framing the killing as righteous retribution. Rapp’s sarcastic remark (“A poodle-loving Nazi who helps terrorists”) highlights the absurdity of such contradictions, yet the artifacts steel his resolve. Symbolically, they absolve the operatives of guilt by reducing Dorfman to a caricature of evil. This device reinforces the chapter’s exploration of how dehumanization enables violence, even among morally complex protagonists (Chapter 40).

    Quotes

    • 1. “Left eye or right eye? You choose.”

      Rapp threatens Dorfman’s dog to force compliance, revealing the brutal pragmatism of counterterrorism operations. This moment underscores the moral compromises made in the field.

      2. “You care more about that damn dog than you do your wife… don’t you?”

      Rapp’s observation highlights Dorfman’s twisted priorities, emphasizing the dehumanizing nature of his allegiance to wealth and power over human relationships.

      3. “I was just doing my job… for the bank.”

      Dorfman’s defense mirrors the banality of evil, illustrating how individuals rationalize complicity in atrocities by hiding behind bureaucratic roles.

      4. “The two systems were not, at the end of the day, all that different from each other. Both were corrupt to the core, and both systems served to line the pockets of the powerful.”

      Ivanov’s reflection on post-Soviet Russia draws a damning parallel between communism and capitalism, critiquing systemic corruption in both.

      5. “It was The Godfather, the Wild West, and 1920s gangster America all rolled into one.”

      This metaphor captures the lawless, opportunistic chaos of post-Soviet Russia, where power and profit eclipse ethics.

    Quotes

    1. “Left eye or right eye? You choose.”

    Rapp threatens Dorfman’s dog to force compliance, revealing the brutal pragmatism of counterterrorism operations. This moment underscores the moral compromises made in the field.

    2. “You care more about that damn dog than you do your wife… don’t you?”

    Rapp’s observation highlights Dorfman’s twisted priorities, emphasizing the dehumanizing nature of his allegiance to wealth and power over human relationships.

    3. “I was just doing my job… for the bank.”

    Dorfman’s defense mirrors the banality of evil, illustrating how individuals rationalize complicity in atrocities by hiding behind bureaucratic roles.

    4. “The two systems were not, at the end of the day, all that different from each other. Both were corrupt to the core, and both systems served to line the pockets of the powerful.”

    Ivanov’s reflection on post-Soviet Russia draws a damning parallel between communism and capitalism, critiquing systemic corruption in both.

    5. “It was The Godfather, the Wild West, and 1920s gangster America all rolled into one.”

    This metaphor captures the lawless, opportunistic chaos of post-Soviet Russia, where power and profit eclipse ethics.

    FAQs

    1. How does Rapp manipulate Dorfman into opening the safe, and what does this reveal about Dorfman’s priorities?

    Answer:
    Rapp uses psychological torture by threatening to harm Dorfman’s poodle with a knife, feigning intent to pierce its eye. This extreme tactic exploits Dorfman’s emotional attachment to the dog, as he relents and opens the safe only when the threat becomes imminent. The scene reveals Dorfman prioritizes his dog over his own safety or loyalty to his clients—highlighting a moral contradiction where he aids terrorists yet shows compassion for an animal. Rapp’s muttered observation (“You care more about that damn dog than your wife”) underscores this hypocrisy, emphasizing Dorfman’s skewed values (Chapter 40).

    2. Analyze Hurley’s justification for killing Dorfman after obtaining the files. How does this reflect the operatives’ moral code?

    Answer:
    Hurley executes Dorfman with a cold declaration—”I’m only doing my job”—after confirming the banker knowingly facilitated terrorist finances. This act reflects a utilitarian moral code: Dorfman’s death is framed as necessary to prevent future harm, despite the brutality. The Nazi insignia found in the safe further dehumanizes Dorfman, allowing Hurley to rationalize the killing as justice. However, Rapp’s hesitation (not raising his gun immediately) hints at internal conflict, contrasting Hurley’s ruthlessness. Their dynamic illustrates the tension between operational pragmatism and personal ethics in counterterrorism (Chapter 40).

    3. Compare Ivanov’s view of post-Soviet Russia to the themes in The Godfather. How does he perceive his role in the new economy?

    Answer:
    Ivanov likens modern Russia to The Godfather, describing it as a corrupt, dynamic landscape where power and profit intersect. He critiques Soviet inefficiency (e.g., unqualified officials stifling talent) but embraces the new “Wild West” capitalism as an opportunity to exploit systemic corruption. As an SVR officer, he positions himself as a fixer—using state connections to broker deals for foreign investors while demanding a 10% stake. His self-justification (“far more deserving than some business-school graduate”) mirrors mafia logic, blending patriotism with personal greed. This parallels Coppola’s portrayal of power as a web of loyalty and exploitation (Chapter 40).

    4. What strategic purpose does the Zurich mission serve, based on Hurley’s comment about “money and assholes”?

    Answer:
    Hurley’s cryptic remark—”money and assholes”—implies Zurich is another hub of financial corruption akin to Dorfman’s operations. The team’s urgency (“sunrise” deadline) suggests they’re disrupting a terrorist funding network by targeting complicit bankers. The phrase also reflects their cynical worldview: Zurich symbolizes global complicity, where greed enables terrorism. By seizing records in Dorfman’s safe (files, hard drives), they likely uncovered leads pointing to Zurich-based collaborators. This continuity underscores the narrative’s theme: counterterrorism requires dismantling financial systems as ruthlessly as combatting militants (Chapter 40).

    5. Evaluate the symbolism of the Nazi artifacts in Dorfman’s safe. How do they influence Rapp and Hurley’s actions?

    Answer:
    The SS dagger and insignia serve as moral shorthand, equating Dorfman’s collaboration with terrorists to Nazi ideology. For Hurley, these items validate Dorfman’s execution—he brands him a “Nazi prick,” framing the killing as righteous retribution. Rapp’s sarcastic remark (“A poodle-loving Nazi who helps terrorists”) highlights the absurdity of such contradictions, yet the artifacts steel his resolve. Symbolically, they absolve the operatives of guilt by reducing Dorfman to a caricature of evil. This device reinforces the chapter’s exploration of how dehumanization enables violence, even among morally complex protagonists (Chapter 40).

    Note