The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the story of Dorian Gray, a stunningly beautiful and innocent young man in London who becomes obsessed with his own beauty and youth after falling under the influence of the hedonistic philosopher Lord Henry Wotton. When artist Basil Hallward completes his portrait, Dorian impulsively wishes that the painting would bear the burden of age and moral corruption while he remains eternally youthful and unblemished.

His wish is granted: Dorian proceeds to live a life of unchecked pleasure, vice, and cruelty—even committing the murder of Basil Hallward—without any change to his perfect physical appearance. However, every sin he commits is recorded as a hideous alteration on his hidden portrait, which acts as a vile mirror of his rotting soul. Unable to bear the sight of his monstrous reflection any longer, Dorian attempts to destroy the painting with the same knife he used to kill Basil, but in doing so, he kills himself. His body is discovered as a wrinkled, withered corpse, while the portrait reverts to its original state of youthful innocence.