The world is full of evil, and whether one knows it or not there is no such thing as a faultless person. Everyone contains a weakness of some sort. The world is not a simple place, and humans are not simple creatures. One must first know themselves before they judge other people. Mrs. Hopewell, Joy-Hulga, Glynese, and Carramae all suffer because they don't understand their own weaknesses. Oftentimes people put on fake fronts and don't really act as they appear. People must feel comfortable with all aspects of themselves, because someone or something will always be there to exploit another person's weaknesses. Situations are not always as they seem, and unless one decides to first look within himself, his weakness will be exploited. Several of the characters in "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor have their lives torn apart by acts of evil. One of Mrs. Hopewell's favorite sayings, "Nothing is perfect", is seen in the very beginning of the novel. Her saying was just that, a saying. The quote acts as foreshadowing for what her attitude towards life will be. We later find out that she is right, but that she does not live by her credo. Mrs. Hopewell, as the name bears, always hopes for the best but bears a weak heart when it comes to those suffering from deadly diseases. Manley Pointer, who in some regards can be considered a devil-like character, exploits her weakness in order to receive a free meal and an invitation to return to the house. Manley Pointer's name refers to the power that he contains over, not only Mrs. Hopewell, but over Joy-Hulga. At the end of the story, Mrs. Hopewell considers Manley Pointer "simple". Her ignorance towards the underlying evil in the world turns out to be her greatest fault. .

             Glynese and Carramae, referred to by Mrs. Freeman as "Glycerin and Caramel", are minor characters, but they also show a great deal of ignorance and are being taken advantage of. Glycerin and caramel are both very sticky substances.