The Picture of Dorian Gray

Basil Hallward completes his portrait of Dorian Gray in his studio. Lord Henry Wotton arrives, meets Dorian, and begins his seduction of the young man's mind with his philosophy of pleasure and youth.

Lord Henry sends Dorian a 'yellow book' that shapes his worldview. Dorian falls obsessively in love with Sibyl Vane, a young actress he discovers in a cheap East End theater.

Sibyl Vane, transformed by real love, performs badly. Dorian rejects her with cruelty. He discovers the portrait has changed. Before he can make amends, Sibyl takes her own life.

Dorian has the portrait moved to a locked attic room. Years pass. He lives a double life: surface beauty and social charm concealing the vice the portrait records. Lord Henry's influence deepens through his 'poisonous book.'

Sibyl's brother James Vane confronts Dorian before departing for Australia. James swears to find and punish the man who destroys his sister — though he does not yet know Sibyl is dead.

Lord Henry holds court in his drawing room. He meets Dorian for lunch and continues his influence. Dorian is drawn deeper into a life of sensation while Lord Henry dissects marriage, women, and morality with brilliant callousness.

Basil Hallward, troubled by the rumors about Dorian, comes to him before leaving for Paris and demands to know the truth. Dorian shows him the portrait. Basil urges repentance. Dorian kills him.

Dorian blackmails his former friend Alan Campbell, a scientist, into destroying Basil's body with chemicals. Campbell complies, and Dorian attends a society party that evening. The portrait grows more monstrous.

Years later, Dorian visits an opium den seeking oblivion. James Vane finds him and nearly kills him, but is deceived by Dorian's youthful face. James realizes his mistake too late.

James Vane shadows Dorian to his country estate, Selby Royal. During a pheasant hunting party, James is accidentally shot dead. Dorian, terrified throughout, now feels safe — and this safety disgusts him.

Dorian decides to destroy the portrait to free himself from guilt and evidence. He stabs the canvas. Servants find his own body on the floor — dead, aged, hideous — while the portrait is restored to its original beauty.