The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a novel that tells of a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Hallward is impressed by Dorian's beauty and becomes infatuated with him. Realizing that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses a desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait Basil has painted would age rather than he. Dorian's wish is fulfilled, and when he subsequently pursues a life of debauchery, the portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul.
