The story in one page
Basil Hallward finishes his best work: a portrait of the exceptionally handsome Dorian Gray. Under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton’s hedonistic theories, Dorian wishes the canvas would age in his place. The wish is granted. While Dorian remains an unblemished youth in London society, the hidden painting develops the sneers of his cruelty and the scars of his vices. After driving a young actress to suicide and murdering the artist who created the image, Dorian finds himself haunted by the literal mirror of his soul. In a final attempt to kill his conscience, he turns a knife on the canvas, only for the magic to reverse with fatal results.
Who's who
- Dorian Gray
A wealthy young man whose beauty remains static while his soul rots.
- Lord Henry Wotton
A witty aristocrat who corrupts Dorian with theories of self-indulgence.
- Basil Hallward
An artist who becomes obsessed with Dorian and is eventually murdered.
- Sibyl Vane
A talented actress who kills herself after Dorian rejects her.
- Alan Campbell
A chemist Dorian blackmails into dissolving Basil’s body with acid.
What it's really about
- Aestheticism
- The pursuit of beauty as the only worthy life goal.
- Double Life
- The gap between public reputation and private moral decay.
Why it's memorable
- The painting showing a touch of cruelty in the mouth after Sibyl Vane's death.
- The discovery of a withered, unrecognizable man lying beneath a pristine, youthful portrait.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Dorian stabs the portrait to destroy the evidence of his soul, but the servants find him dead on the floor — withered and loathsome — while the painting has returned to its original, beautiful state.
For your book club
- Whether Lord Henry is truly responsible for Dorian’s actions or merely a convenient excuse.
- The relationship between an artist's personal morality and the quality of their work.