The Coyote Dies in the first episode and everything after that is set in Coyote Hell.
- In the first episode, Wile E. is hit by a bus, which a Coyote would probably not be able to survive, especially using the veterinary technology available in 1949 (and he probably didn't even get that, as the series seems to be set out in the middle of nowhere in Arizona, and it's not like RR is going to call anyone to help him).
From what we know of Wile E's character, he is not a very ethical person. Wile E. has used methods of road runner killing such as lying, dynamite, and sabotage of public infrastructure. And, whenever we see him in other Looney Toons, he's something of a show offish snob. From what we know, he wasn't especially religious either. So, whatever religion's standard for salvation we use, this Coyote is not going to heaven.
As his punishment, he is forced to be forever hungry and never full, to chase an animal that coyotes eat every day and never to catch it, and to be allowed to order products from a company run by the devil himself; one whose delivery is great, but whose products are literally straight from hell.
It all combines to teach an Aesop about the ethical treatment of animals.
The reason Wile E. Coyote hasn't just used money to buy meat from ACME is because...
- Aside from the mere fanaticism Jones always referenced, Wile E's Insufferable Genius traits infer that wants to actively prove his skills as a hunter, and that includes catching his own breakfast. Bugs and the Road Runner aren't just food to him, they're hunting trophies. Hell, for all we know, he could even be smart enough to already be ordering essentials from ACME offscreen to survive. He's just too proud to admit it because of how fragile his ego is.
The Road Runner is a Reality Warper
The bird isn't just lucky, he's constantly changing the laws of physics to protect himself from the Coyote. It's probably no coincidence that these shorts use a lot more cartoony gags (Painted tunnels becoming real, messed up gravity, spring loaded weapons launching the Coyote backwards when fired etc.) than most other Looney Toons shorts, including ones that pit the Coyote against Bugs.At some point in his life, the Road Runner accidentally swallowed a car horn
This explains why he is able to make those "Beep beep!" noises no real-life roadrunner can let out. Prior to that incident, he made actual greater roadrunner noises. The Roadrunner isn't actually a roadrunner, but an escaped genetic experiment from Acme Labs
This blue ostrich chicken creature that beeps like a car was merely labeled as a roadrunner to throw off suspicion. Wile E. Coyote was also hired by Acme to capture and retrieve the bird, being constantly supplied with their faulty products to do it. Or he was the "super genius" scientist who mixed the DNA of several birds together and created the Roadrunner, wanting to capture him personally and in secret so nobody else gets to taste his revolutionary bird meal. The real reason Wile E. Coyote keeps chasing the Roadrunner
A common warning in real life to prevent coyote attacks is to never run, as that would trigger the animal's instincts and increase the chances of being bitten or worse. Now what is the Roadrunner always seen doing? Running! The real reason Wile E. Coyote can never catch the Roadrunner
So in real life, roadrunners can only run at a maximum speed of 20mph. Coyotes can run at speeds of over 40mph. So it should be easy for Wile E. to catch the Roadrunner, right? Well if you think about it, real coyotes run on all fours. Wile E. has only ever been seen running on his two hind legs, effectively halving his speed at best. If he were to run on all fours, he would easily catch the Roadrunner, especially if the Roadrunner never flies away.