In which a strikingly handsome young man, Dorian Gray, is introduced sitting for his portrait as he encounters the charming and provocative Lord Henry, whose words stir new thoughts and emotions within him. Amidst conversations of youth, beauty, and influence, the painter Basil Hallward completes a masterpiece that captures more than mere likeness, setting the tone for considerations of the fleeting nature of youth and the enchantment of appearance.