Dorian Gray, a very good-looking young man, captures the imagination of the painter Basil Hallward who uses him as a model for his latest painting. At the studio, Basil introduces Dorian to Lord Henry Wotton.

Lord henry is a charming talker, convincing Dorian of his delightful theories, one of which is the value of beauty above all other things. Dorian immediately falls for Henry's words that they become fast friends.

Henry's bad influence makes Dorian sad when he realizes that he shall grow old but his portrait will remain young forever. Henry's influence has a great effect on him that he starts adopting Henry's views as his own and begins to behave as if he has no conscience.

When Dorian falls in love with a young and beautiful Shakespearean actress, Sybil Vane, he immediately proposes marriage to her. One night, he brings Henry and Basil to one of her performances. Inexplicably, Sybil's acting is terrible. Disgusted, Dorian confronts her and breaks up with her. When he returns home, he discovers that his portraits bears a slight difference and has a hateful expression.

The next day, he learns that Sybil committed suicide the previous night. He is shocked and broken with guilt. But Henry convinces him not to be guilty. He then finds his portrait bearing all his guilt for him. Because of what he discovers, he allows himself to freely without guilt. And on the next several years, Dorian's face remains young and innocent. His portrait, however, continues to age and becomes unattractive with each sin he commits.