Basil Hallward meets Dorian Gray at aunts (Lady Brandon) house. Dorian is a cultured, wealthy, & beautiful young man (depicted as an ancient Greek hero or a mythological figure by B). Lord Henry, a famous wit who celebrates youth, beauty, & the selfish pursuit of pleasure. D arrives at studio & Basil introduces D to LH. LH upsets D with a speech about the transient nature of beauty and youth. Dorian curses his portrait, which will one day remind him of the beauty he has lost so D pledges his soul if the painting could age instead of him. LH influences D more and more. D falls in love with Sibyl Vane, an actress in the London slums. D adores SV's acting; she calls D “Prince Charming” & refuses to listen to her brother, James, that D is no good for her. SV decides that she can no longer act (can't fake love after feeling real love). D, who loves SV because of her ability to act, breaks his engagement with her after bad performance. D goes home & notices the portrait of him has changed: it now sneers. Decides to make amends with SV next day because of portrait. SV commits suicide, LH brings the news to D. D decides to consider her death artistic triumph & move on. D hides portrait upstairs so nobody sees transformation. LH gives D a book that becomes Ds bible & D sinks deeper into a life of sin and corruption. 18yrs pass & Ds reputation suffers in circles of polite London society. His peers nevertheless continue to accept him because he remains young and beautiful, but painting grows hideous. BH arrives at Ds home to confront him, they argue & he shows B the portrait before killing him. D blackmails old friend to dispose of the body. The night after the murder, D goes to opium den, where he encounters JV, who tries to avenge S death. Dorian escapes to his country estate & while entertaining guests, notices JV in window & feels fear and guilt. Hunting party kills JV so Dorian feels safe again. D wants to amend his life but can't confess crimes so D stabs portrait but reverses the "curse" & becomes old, wrinkly & disfigured.