"You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit.”
One look at his beautiful portrait and Dorian Gray believes he is doomed. Getting older than his painting, even by only one day, is definitely a curse. He cries for all these horrible things to happen to the portrait instead of himself. He prays to remain young forever.
His wish is granted. Now he appears innocent and civilized in the public eye, but corrupt and immoral behind closed doors. No consequences except for the changing of the painting, which shows his horrifying, rotten soul.
Or so he thinks.