Which cartoon character takes more punishment: Elmer Fudd or Wile E. Coyote?

Coyote

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by Gary Davis

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I love Wile E. Coyote. He is the eternal optimist. He is determined, single-minded, focused, and, unfortunately, totally out-matched; and, by whom? The Road Runner is not a very likable creature. A lot of us, including me, would like to see that anvil land on his bird head and would then enjoy the re-runs knowing that ultimately the Road Runner was going to get his comeuppance. In fact, after a while the cartoon becomes somewhat annoying because the viewer always knows how it is going to end.
Technically, though, we're talking about the difference in amounts and types of punishment; doled out to the Coyote and Elmer Fudd.
First, I don't think Elmer Fudd gets as much physical punishment as Wile E Coyote. After all, not too many creatures have things as heavy as an entire cliff land on them. No matter what weapon Wile E Coyote uses, he becomes the ultimate recipient of it. He always "picks his own poison." Elmer is pretty much the victim of his own slow-wittedness, and, his "punishment", in my estimation, is mostly "mental cruelty" imposed by Bugs Bunny, although, occasionally, the rabbit does extend Elmer's hunting rifle in order to see he gets shot in and from the behind.
The cartoons are similar in that we always know who is going to win. We have the slow moving Elmer Fudd versus the hyper Wile E. Coyote. Their opponents are the clever Bugs versus the annoying Road Runner.
Bugs Bunny has never struck me as a "villain" who really enjoys hurting Elmer. He seems to enjoy making a fool out of him; belittling him. Occasionally Elmer ends up in a "bowl of rabbit stew" at the end of the cartoon, but, even then, Bugs is just reacting to what he has been threatened with.
The Road Runner, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be happy with just "out-maneuvering the Coyote. If the edge of the cliff comes down and buries the poor animal; the Road Runner will more often than not turn around and come jump up and down on the pile of dirt.
My position that the coyote gets more punishment boils down to several points:
1. The Road Runner is a more ruthless enemy than Bugs Bunny. He is meaner and takes advantage of opportunities to add additional injuries.
2. Bugs Bunny is a classier enemy than the Road Runner, using brains over brawn; or perhaps, more accurately, inflicting emotional over physical pain.
3. There are more ways that Wile E. Coyote can get hurt. He uses so many tools; from jet skis to bombs to slings, that he just gets more physical pain. It seems for him to go through a tree, or, have a cliff fall on him, is no big deal.
4. Finally, I think Wile E. Coyote gets more punishment because he is aware of punishment. Just as he realizes, once again, he is the victim of gravity, for example, he will look at the camera with that sad look on his face knowing he has again been beaten and is going to pay a physical price. Awareness of pain increases it and, in that area, Wile E Coyote is more "sensitive".
Make no mistake about it. Elmer Fudd and Wile E Coyote are two of the great anti-heroes of all time. However, when it comes to punishment, I have to believe the enemy that sticks his tongue out at you is going to hurt you more than one who asks "What's up Doc.?"

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