The Picture of Dorian Gray

In Basil Hallward's studio, Dorian Gray is introduced as a handsome aristocrat who becomes the subject of a portrait. Basil's friendship is joined by Lord Henry Wotton, whose glib philosophy that the only worthwhile life is devoted to pleasure shapes Dorian's outlook. Henry's ideas plant the seed that a life defined by sensual delight might be the path to happiness.

Moved by Henry's hedonistic arguing and vanity, Dorian wishes he could remain young while the portrait ages. He makes this wish in the presence of an Egyptian cat statue, which is presented as having mystical powers. The wish promises that Dorian's beauty will endure while consequences accumulate in the painting.

Dorian, initially drawn to Sibyl Vane, ends the engagement after she performs poorly on stage and he grows callous. The breakup marks a turning point, as his emotional reserve hardens and the romance collapses. Sibyl's heartbreak intensifies the sense that Dorian's soul is untethered from his youth.

Following Sibyl's rejection, Dorian notices the portrait starting to distort, reflecting moral corruption. He orders the painting locked away in an old schoolroom and dismisses those who could reveal its location. He keeps the key to the room, effectively sheltering his secret life.

Grief and social scandal drive Sibyl to take her own life after Dorian's abrupt rejection. The tragedy ripples through Dorian's social circle and marks his first direct consequence of his callous new lifestyle. The event underscores the distance between appearances and inner decay.

Years roll by and Dorian continues to look twenty-something, a sensation in London society. The portrait remains locked away, with Gray holding the only key. The gap between his gleaming exterior and hidden guilt widens.

Basil Hallward eventually sees the portrait's grotesque transformation and confronts Dorian about it. In a moment of brutal treachery, Dorian murders Hallward and hides the body in the schoolroom alongside the painting. The crime cements Dorian's descent into violence as he actively destroys those who remind him of his sins.

To cover up the murder, Dorian pressures Allen Campbell to remove Hallward's corpse and stifle any investigation. Campbell, wracked by guilt, is unable to cope with his role and ultimately takes his own life.

Dorian enters a budding romance with Basil Hallward's niece, Gladys, seeking social repair and companionship despite his hidden corruption. The relationship offers him a respite from his hedonistic cycle, at least on the surface. Yet the presence of his decaying soul remains unresolved.

James Vane, Sibyl's brother, travels to pursue revenge against Dorian and follows him to his country estate. During a hunting party, Vane is accidentally shot, foiling his quest for vengeance. The near-miss underscores the peril of Dorian's chosen path.

Feeling the weight of his influence on others, Dorian decides to spare Gladys from misfortune by ending their engagement. He sends a letter breaking off their betrothal, attempting to isolate himself from any harm he might bring.

Dorian confronts the portrait again and notices a subtle improvement, as if the spell were loosening or reversing. The moment hints at a possible redemption that remains tantalizingly out of reach. He clings to this faint sign while the external world remains oblivious.

In a final bid to end the spell, Dorian stabs the painting in the heart. He cries out as if he himself has been pierced, revealing the intertwined fate of body and image. The act seals his doom and accelerates the painting's decay.

Gray's friends burst into the schoolroom to find him dead beside the painting, his body warped by his sins. The portrait, by contrast, reverts to a young, innocent version of Dorian. The tragedy completes the moral reversal between outward beauty and inward corruption.