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What Doth Life? A Study into Xavier: Renegade Angel

Lane Helford #07

Xavier is a humanoid man completely covered in brown fur except for his hair which is blonde. He has backwards knees like a horse or a satyr, two differently colored eyes, 6 large prevalent nipples, a birdlike beak for a nose, and snake for an arm that talks and has full mental independence. It is never specified what he fully is but from various episodes we are to believe that he is part of an ancient humanoid race believing in Native American teachings and customs. He is constantly ridiculed by racist citizens who often call him a “Chinaman,” often without provocation other than seeing his looks.

Xavier has fairly cryptic past with many inconsistencies and knowledge gaps. What we do know is that Xavier was mocked and bullied as a child for his looks as well as his attitudes towards the world. His childhood house were wracked with abuse and neglect as we find out he had an incestualized relationship with his mother and his father frequently tried to abandon him on the side of the road. Xavier was forced to fend for himself in the world when he accidentally and unknowingly burned down his house with his parents inside. The only thing he could salvage was a piece of trash that he claimed to be his family heirloom.

    In his adolescence, Xavier met a wandering guru who taught him how to channel his energy as well as hone his philosophical potential. This guru gave Xavier his most prized possession, his shakashuri, which he uses to call upon spirits and channel other mystical elements.

    Xavier travels the world to find the culprits who burned down his parents’ house, ironically not knowing that he was the perpetrator, and seeks to educate those around him in the ways of philosophical insights. Although this show is considered dark comedy, it has many deep and philosophical insights behind it. The rest of this paper will be analyzing his quotes, who he is most related to in the philosophical world, and how this show has captivated my interest in philosophy.

    I would like to introduce you to the very basics of the philosophical quotes of Xavier: Renegade Angel. The first quote I will introduce you to displays a satirical take on the first law of thermodynamics yet somehow seriously discussing the philosophical theory of existence monism, wherein there is one single entity or concept which is artificially divide amongst all things.

    “Every luxury has a deep price. Every indulgence, a cosmic cost. Each fiber of pleasure you experience causes equivalent pain somewhere else. This is the first law of emodynamics [sic]. Joy can be neither created nor destroyed. The balance of happiness is constant.”   

    The next quote is more satirical but it still displays how the show ties philosophy into normal conversation. The setting is that a passerby wonders, considering Xavier’s odd and mystic appearance, if he has any powers. Xavier promptly responds with, “Powers are for the weak. I have no powers. I mean, unless you count the power to blow minds with my weapons-grade philosophical insights.” Although this is clearly a joke, it remains true for the rest of the series. Xavier does have no powers yet it is his philosophy and strong willpower that gets himself out of every negative situation he encounters. Although his charisma is lacking, he manages to convert everyone, even a local gang, to following his philosophical insights.

   

http://www.adultswim.com/videos/xavier-renegade-angel/

        -You can watch this for fun if you want!

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/monism/