The Picture of Dorian Gray summary

The novel begins with Basil Hallward, an artist, painting a portrait of the beautiful Dorian Gray. Basil's friend, Lord Henry Wotton, meets Dorian and influences him with his hedonistic worldview. Dorian, wishing to remain forever youthful, expresses a desire for his portrait to age in his place.

As time passes, Dorian indulges in a life of pleasure and vice, influenced by Lord Henry's philosophies. The portrait, hidden away in his attic, begins to show signs of aging and corruption, reflecting Dorian's inner moral decay.

Dorian's actions lead to the ruin of several people, including Sibyl Vane, an actress he loves and then rejects, leading to her suicide. Dorian's conscience is troubled, but he continues his decadent lifestyle, and the portrait grows more grotesque.

Basil confronts Dorian about the rumors of his immoral life. Dorian shows Basil the corrupted portrait, and in a fit of rage, he murders Basil. As Dorian's life spirals further out of control, he becomes paranoid about the secret of the portrait being discovered.

Eventually, Dorian decides to change his ways and live a virtuous life, hoping to restore the portrait. However, when he checks the portrait, it only shows more hypocrisy and deceit. Realizing the portrait is the last piece of evidence of his sins, he attempts to destroy it.

In the end, Dorian stabs the portrait. In doing so, he kills himself. The servants find a decrepit old man dead on the floor, and the portrait restored to its original beauty, revealing the true cost of Dorian's wish.