The Picture of Dorian Gray

The narrative follows a fashionable young man, Dorian Gray, who trades his soul for everlasting youth and beauty, leading to his moral decay. This story, crafted in Oscar Wilde's signature style, sparked controversy upon its release in 1890 due to its themes of corruption and hedonism. Despite the backlash, Wilde argued that the tale ultimately conveys a profound moral lesson, exploring the consequences of vanity and the pursuit of aesthetic pleasure.