Hazel Motes is the main character in the novel "Wise Blood" by Flannery O'Connor. He is a young man who returns to his hometown in Tennessee after serving in the military. Struggling with his faith and the concept of religion, Hazel becomes obsessed with the idea of creating his own belief system, which he calls the "Church Without Christ." Throughout the story, Hazel grapples with his inner turmoil and the influence of his family, particularly his grandfather. His journey reflects themes of existentialism, faith, and the search for identity in a world filled with contradictions and moral ambiguity.