The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

Basil Hallward, an artist, meets Dorian Gray and paints his portrait. The artist is so infatuated with Dorian's beauty that he begins to believe it is the reason for his artistic quality. Dorian becomes convinced that beauty is all-important and wishes his portrait could age instead of him. Beware of what you wish for—each time Dorian sins, his portrait ages, showing him what is happening to his soul.

Oscar Wilde's masterpiece explores the corrupting influence of beauty and vanity through the story of Dorian Gray, a young man whose portrait ages while he remains eternally youthful. As Gray pursues a life of hedonistic pleasure, his moral decay becomes increasingly evident—though hidden from the world. This psychological thriller examines themes of aestheticism, morality, and the price of unchecked ambition. A seminal work of Victorian literature that remains profoundly relevant, offering readers a penetrating critique of superficiality and the human capacity for self-deception. Essential reading for anyone interested in classic literature and philosophical inquiry.