The Picture of Dorian Gray

The story explores Dorian Gray's obsession with youth and beauty, sparked by his reaction to a portrait that captures his likeness. He wishes for the painting to age instead of him, leading to a Faustian bargain where he sacrifices his soul for eternal youth. This desire sets off a chain of events that delves into themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of one's choices, ultimately questioning the price of aesthetic perfection and the nature of the self.