The Picture of Dorian Gray is a short novel by Oscar Wilde originally published in 1890. The story begins at Basil Hallward's house and opens with a conversation between him and Lord Henry Wotton. Lord Henry is fervently admiring Basil's latest portrait of a young and beautiful man, Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray is the main protagonist of the story. He is described as having a "simple and beautiful nature", and remains so until he is corrupted by the story's antagonist, Lord Henry, who turns out to be the epitome of selfishness and self-centeredness. He convinces Dorian that he must hold on to his youth as it will quickly fade and he will grow old, which makes Dorian wish the painting Basil made would grow old for him. His wish comes true and, with no immediate or obvious repercussions for himself, he allows himself to be corrupted by Lord Henry's poisonous and immoral view of life. The fulfillment of his wish triggers a complete downward spiral in which the man Dorian becomes a heartless wretch. His sins gradually distort his painting, which represents his soul. Towards the end of the novel he attempts to atone for his wrongdoings, but is only met with sneers of hypocrisy which become evident in his painting. He eventually draws a knife and attempts to destroy the painting, but as he stabs the painting he himself is killed, and as his body is transformed into a disgusting, ancient state, his painting reverts to its original interpretation of a beautiful young man. In the image of Dorian Gray many themes, symbols and other literary elements become evident. The most important theme in this book is the superficial nature of society. Since the beginning of time, society has prioritized beauty, a... medium of paper... being kind-hearted. Such ideology has the power to fascinate, but most individuals are able to recognize that they must live a respectful and moral life. When this book was first published in 1890, people were taken aback by the heinous message in it, but I believe they were simply hiding from the truth; that the message depicted was enormously widespread in their society, they simply did not want to acknowledge it. Overall I really liked this book. Because of its initial plot, thought-provoking quotes, and small climaxes that ultimately build to an unforgettable ending, The Picture of Dorian Gray kept me captivated from start to finish. I've always been fascinated by little sayings that make me think of moments in my life, and this novel is full of them! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an exquisite read.