The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel by Oscar Wilde that explores the themes of decadence and the fin-de-siècle. Set in Victorian London, the story follows the handsome and narcissistic Dorian Gray, who becomes obsessed with his own beauty and youth. He wishes that a portrait of himself would age instead of him, and his wish is granted. As Dorian indulges in a life of hedonism and immorality, the portrait reflects the corruption of his soul, while he remains eternally youthful and unblemished. Wilde's novel is a critique of the superficiality and moral decay of society during the late 19th century, and it raises questions about the nature of art, beauty, and the pursuit of pleasure.
