Dorian is a cultured, wealthy, and beautiful
young man who captures Basil’s
artistic imagination. Dorian sits for several portraits, and Basil often depicts
him as an ancient Greek hero or a mythological figure. After his finest
depiction of the young man, Dorian curses the
portrait, which he believes will
one day remind him of the beauty lost. In a fit of distress, he pledges his soul
if only the
painting could bear the burden of age and infamy, allowing him to
stay forever young.
His rejection of the woman who loved him led her to commit suicide, an
incident Dorian choses to put behind him. The portrait meanwhile appears to
be changing and adapting to reflect the events in Dorian's
life so he hides it
in a remote part of the house. Dorian's London reputation exceeds itself and
rumours of his scandalous behaviour abound, and as he remains youthful and
vigorous, his painting continues to deteriorate. His life takes a turn for the
worse when he murders Basil after revealing the portrait to him. Ultimately,
his exploits consume him and manifest in the worst possible way, but the
retribution is swift and just for the crimes committed.
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