Chiron’s description of surgery is an interesting one. Basically, he’s saying that surgery is a kind of necessary violence, one that heals rather than hurts. Again, Chiron’s interest in medicine and his offer to teach Patroclus medicine and Achilles music seem at odds with what he’s supposed to be doing. But Chiron is obviously not a bloodthirsty trainer, and Achilles will not be exclusively trained in violence. This complicates things again—the more human Achilles is allowed to be, the more difficult his destiny will become.