Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray meets Lord Henry Wotton at the studio of Basil Hallward, who is using Dorian as a model for his latest painting. Lord Henry tells Dorian about his epicurean views on life, and convinceshim of the value of beauty above all other things. The young and impressionable Dorian is greatly moved by Lord Henry's words. When Basil shows them the newly completed painting, Dorian is flooded withawe at the sight of his own image, and is overwhelmed by his fear that his youth and beauty will fade. He becomes jealous that the picture will be beautiful forever while he is destined to wither andage. He passionately wishes that it could be the other way around. Lord Henry is fascinated with Dorian's innocence as much as Dorian is impressed by Henry's cynically sensual outlook on life. Theybecome fast friends, to Basil's dismay. He fears that Henry will be a corrupting influence on the young, innocent Dorian, whom he adores.
Dorian and Lord Henry become fast friends, often diningtogether and attending the same social functions. Henry's influence has a profound effect on the young man, who soon adopts Henry's views as his own, abandoning ethical restraints and seeing life in termsof pleasure and sensuality. Dorian falls in love with the beautiful Sybil Vane, a poor but talented young Shakespearean actress. They are engaged to be married until Dorian brings Henry and Basil to aperformance, where her acting is uncharacteristically - and inexplicably - terrible. Dorian confronts Sybil backstage, and she tells him that since she is now truly in love, she no longer believes inacting. Disgusted and offended, Dorian breaks off their engagement and leaves her sobbing on the floor. When he returns home, he discovers that the figure in his portrait now bears a slightlydifferent, more contemptuous facial expression.
Dorian awakens late the next day feeling guilty for his treatment of Sybil, and writes an impassioned love letter begging her forgiveness. Soon, however,...