Spots 
Basil Hallward puts so much of himself into his portrait of Dorian Gray that he refuses to exhibit it publicly. Lord Henry Wotton argues that physical beauty is the highest human virtue, advocating an uninhibited pursuit of sensation. When Dorian arrives at the studio, Henry's philosophy immediately captures the young man's imagination.
Lord Henry warns Dorian that time will strip away his flawless youth, urging him to live fully before beauty fades. Overwhelmed by fear of aging, Dorian utters a fateful wish to stay young while his portrait grows old. Basil finishes the painting, unaware of the metaphysical bargain Dorian has just struck in his mind.
Lord Henry investigates Dorian's aristocratic lineage through his uncle, discovering a tragic family history of romance and death. At a high-society dinner, Henry captivates the room by arguing against conventional morality with brilliant paradoxes. Dorian becomes entirely fascinated by Henry's philosophy, choosing to spend his evening with him rather than Basil.
Dorian confesses to Lord Henry that he has fallen in love with Sibyl Vane, a young actress performing in a low-end London theater. He sees her non-stop portrayals of Shakespearean heroines as proof of her pure, transcendent nature. Lord Henry views Dorian's passion as a fascinating psychological experiment to observe rather than interrupt.
Sibyl Vane tells her family about her love for Dorian, whom she calls Prince Charming, despite knowing nothing of his true identity. Her brother James, about to sail for Australia, distrusts the wealthy stranger and vows to kill him if he harms Sibyl. Mrs. Vane focuses instead on the potential financial security Dorian might offer their family.
Basil expresses deep concern over Dorian's sudden engagement to an unknown young actress. Lord Henry defends the impulsive marriage, arguing that rash decisions are the only ones a person never regrets. Over dinner, Dorian insists that loving Sibyl has elevated his soul, while his friends remain skeptical of such idealization.
Sibyl acts poorly in front of Basil and Lord Henry because real love has rendered theatrical illusion meaningless to her. Dorian, disgusted by her terrible performance, brutally breaks off their engagement and leaves her heartbroken. Returning home, he discovers that the painted mouth on his portrait has twisted into a faint sneer of cruelty.
Dorian wakes filled with guilt and resolves to marry Sibyl, only for Lord Henry to reveal that she committed suicide the previous night. Henry convinces him to treat her death as a sublime tragic poem rather than a personal tragedy. Dorian accepts this view, realizing his portrait will bear his moral corruption while he remains untouched.
Basil visits Dorian to offer consolation for Sibyl's death and expresses dismay at Dorian's apparent indifference. When Basil asks to see the portrait again for an upcoming exhibition, Dorian panics and firmly refuses. Reluctantly, Basil agrees not to demand a view, leaving Dorian determined to hide the painting forever.
Dorian hires movers to carry the portrait up to his old, unused schoolroom at the top of his house. He locks the door and keeps the only key, securing his secret away from servants and visitors. Afterwards, he immerses himself in an intoxicating yellow novel sent by Lord Henry, which shapes his worldview for years to come.
Guided by the yellow book, Dorian spends decades collecting rare tapestries, jewels, exotic perfumes, and musical instruments. He indulges in obscure vices while his physical appearance remains miraculously unblemished. Although terrible rumors circulate through London society regarding his ruinous influence on young men, his youthful face dispels public suspicion.
On the eve of his thirty-eighth birthday, Basil encounters Dorian in the street and follows him home to address serious scandals. Basil insists that a man's character shows in his face and begs Dorian to deny the rumors. Frustrated and cold, Dorian offers to show Basil his actual soul hidden upstairs.
Dorian leads Basil to the locked schoolroom and pulls back the curtain covering the horrific, decayed portrait. Horrified by the canvas, Basil urges Dorian to pray for forgiveness and repent his sins. Driven by sudden, uncontrollable hatred for the creator of his portrait, Dorian grabs a knife and stabs Basil to death.
Dorian summons Alan Campbell, a talented chemist and former friend who had previously cut ties with him over moral disagreements. Using a mysterious threat of blackmail, Dorian forces Campbell to use nitric acid to destroy Basil's corpse. Campbell reluctantly completes the grim chemical task in the locked attic room before fleeing.
Dorian attends a fashionable dinner party at Lady Narborough's house, attempting to act normal despite his inner dread. His host and Lord Henry notice his strange, nervous behavior and lack of appetite. Returning home late at night, Dorian burns Basil's remaining personal belongings to erase all physical links to the murder.
Seeking forgetfulness, Dorian travels to a shadowy London opium den near the river docks. Inside the murky room, a woman calls him Prince Charming, alerting James Vane, who has hunted him for eighteen years. James corners Dorian outside, but Dorian escapes death by showing his unaged, youthful face in the light.
Dorian hosts a weekend shooting party at his country estate, Selby Royal, entertaining aristocrats with charming conversation. While talking in the conservatory, he spots the face of James Vane pressed against the glass window. Terror strikes Dorian, causing him to faint and plunging him into constant dread of imminent retribution.
Terrified for his life, Dorian remains indoors for days until joining a hunting walk on the estate grounds. A hunter accidentally shoots a man hiding in the brush, who is later identified as James Vane. Relieved that his stalker is dead, Dorian feels safe from revenge but remains trapped by his own conscience.
Dorian tells Lord Henry that he has decided to reform his life, citing his decision not to ruin a young country girl named Hetty Merton. Lord Henry dismisses Dorian's moral effort as mere vanity and curiosity rather than true repentance. Henry then asks Dorian what became of Basil, noting that the world remains mystified by his disappearance.
Hoping his effort to spare Hetty Merton improved the painting, Dorian inspects the portrait, only to find an expression of hypocritical self-righteousness. Realizing the canvas will always record his corruption, he stabs the artwork with the knife used on Basil. The fatal blow strikes his own heart, restoring the portrait to youth while leaving his body withered and ruined.
An aesthetic pursuit of eternal youth corrupts a man's soul while his portrait bears the hidden burden of aging.