<i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i>&nbsp;begins on a beautiful summer day in&nbsp;Victorian era&nbsp;England, where Lord Henry Wotton, an opinionated man, is observing the sensitive artist Basil Hallward painting the portrait of Dorian Gray, a handsome young man who is Basil&#39;s ultimate&nbsp;muse. While sitting for the painting, Dorian listens to Lord Henry espousing his&nbsp;hedonistic&nbsp;world view, and begins to think that&nbsp;beauty&nbsp;is the only aspect of life worth pursuing. This prompts Dorian to wish that the painted image of himself would age instead of himself.