young beautiful man, under subtle influence of older blase sophisticate, becomes conscious and fearful of the passage of time and appears to bargain his soul for eternal youth 
 interesting set of characters, the corrupted innocence of Dorian Gray, the quick-witted detachment of Lord Henry Wotton and the sincere struggle of artist Basil Hallward 
 Gray's descent into immorality and hedonism appears to be a rapid transformation rather than a gradual process, 
 (view spoiler)[he quickly rationalises his most grievous acts, even up to the murder of Basil (hide spoiler)] 
 fascinating to view the characters as aspects of Wilde's personality- in particular Wotton, who most closely resembles Wilde's public persona, and who is least sympathetic, most disengaged and most malign 
 "Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be"