Oscar Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, shows a man's vanity, indulgence, and complete lack of respect for others through art . The portrait of Dorian Gray, created at the height of Dorian's beauty, youth and charm, is a reflection of the harm in basing someone's worth on their appearance rather than their character . Since those around him find him handsome and charming, Dorian believes that the only thing that matters is his appearance, so that he can focus on his own needs and desires. Showing how vain the people of a society can be and its destructive force is Wilde's ultimate statement. After Basil Hallward paints a magnificent portrait of Dorian Gray, the painting changes with Dorian's soul, but Dorian's physical presence remains the same. As he evolves into this new person, Dorian tends to collapse people's reputations and eventually ruins his own reputation as well, leaving a path of destruction in the pursuit of his own pleasures and the things he feels he is entitled to. Oscar Wilde draws attention to the vanity of society by creating an element of the supernatural in the painting. When Dorian does horrible things, the painting captures what he has done and begins to appear cruel and evil while Dorian's youth and good looks remain the same. The painting is a metaphor for Dorian's soul. His soul and the painting change for the worse, but Dorian Gray still looks like the boy of nearly twenty years old he was when the painting was first composed. Dorian's vanity is all that matters. Dorian claims to find the love of his life in Sibyl Vane. However, his feelings for Sibyl have little to do with her as a person and much more to do with what is important to Dorian and how, by loving him, she... middle of paper. .. indifference towards Sibyl's suicide, corruption of others, ultimately leading to murder. Oscar Wilde wants the world to know how vain and selfish everyone really is. The painted portrait of Dorian Gray, like a supernatural mirror, reflects not the outward appearance but the results of our actions on our souls. Wilde creates the painting to show this message to readers. As he begins his novel in the preface, Oscar Wilde states: “It is the spectator, and not life, that art really reflects” (Wilde, vii). The painting shows Dorian's vanity and increasing selfishness as he ages, the painting ultimately appears cruel. As Dorian's soul becomes more self-centered, the painting absorbs Dorian's essence. Dorian Gray is willing to sell his soul to the devil, to retain his youth and beauty, but ultimately he cannot escape his reflection..