The Picture of Dorian Gray, the only novel written by Wilde, is the story of a beautiful, shallow young man who is afraid to lose his youth and beauty. He lives in a society that measures people harshly by their attraction, and he wants to retain his power. He has two main influences in his life, the good angel on one shoulder in the form of Basil Hallward, the artist, and the evil devil on the other shoulder, in the form of Lord Henry Wotten. Basil paints a portrait of Dorian that seems to capture his soul, so when Dorian makes a wish that his portrait will age and not himself, the devil takes heed.
