The ideals and opinions of Lord Henry Wotton, who believes that the only purpose of life is the pursuit of beauty, greatly affect the young, handsome Dorian Gray. Lamenting that one day his own good looks will diminish, Dorian offers to sell his soul if a beautiful painting of ages instead of his physical self. As Dorian pursues a hedonistic and reckless lifestyle, he soon realizes that his offer has been accepted, and with every sin he commits, the painting becomes more and more hideous.

The Picture of Dorian Gray was British author Oscar Wilde's only novel. It was originally rejected by publishers for its scandalous content, and has been censored many times over the life of its publication. Since the twentieth century, The Picture of Dorian Gray has been praised as a masterpiece, and has been adapted for film and television numerous times.

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