The Picture of Dorian Gray

While posing for a portrait by Basil Hallward, Dorian Gray is introduced to Lord Henry Wotton. Wotton extols a life of pleasure and warns that the gods may take away what they give. The encounter plants in Gray the belief that youth and beauty could define his destiny.

Influenced by Wotton's philosophy, Gray wishes that the portrait bear the burden of aging. He makes this vow in the presence of the Egyptian cat statue, hinting at a magical power behind the change to come. The wish marks the turning point toward a supernatural bond with his image.

Gray callously breaks off his engagement with the tavern singer Sibyl Vane. Her rejection reveals his growing cynicism and detachment from genuine emotion. He soon notices that the portrait has begun to change as a consequence of his vow.

Sibyl Vane, overwhelmed by Gray's rejection, kills herself. The tragedy underscores the harsh moral cost of Gray's pursuit of pleasure. The event further isolates him from those who cared for him.

Over the years, Dorian Gray stops aging while the portrait grows more grotesque with each sin. He hides the painting away in his old schoolroom and fires any servants who move it, preserving the secret. The room becomes a shrine to his moral decline.

Basil Hallward confronts the warped portrait and realizes the horror of Gray's life. In a fit of desperation, Gray murders Hallward and seals his body in the schoolroom beside the painting. He then coercively involves his friend Allen Campbell to dispose of the corpse.

Campbell complies with Gray's coercion to hide the murder, but guilt overwhelms him. Distraught by his role, Campbell commits suicide, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of Gray's pact with his portrait.

Gray starts a relationship with Hallward's niece, Gladys, drawing her into his circle. Her presence adds complexity to his already perilous life and tests his ability to keep his secrets intact. The romance heightens the tension between appearance and morality.

James Vane, Sibyl's brother, tracks Gray to his country estate to seek revenge for Sibyl's death. He is shot by accident during a hunting party, thwarting his plan. The incident foreshadows the lethal consequences of Gray's unchecked self-indulgence.

Gripped by fear of harming others, Gray decides to end his engagement with Gladys to spare her misfortune. He sends a letter breaking off the engagement, signaling a shift toward self-imposed isolation. The act further isolates him from those he might harm.

Back in the schoolroom, Gray faces the portrait and notes a faint improvement in its appearance. This glimpse of control fills him with a dangerous hope. He becomes increasingly determined to test the limits of the curse.

In a final act of defiance, Gray drives a knife into the portrait, hoping to end the spell. He dies beside the ruined image, his body contorted by the sins it reflected. When the others rush in, the painting has returned to its original, youthful likeness.