The author is expressing the ideology of hedonism, where the purpose of life is to experience everything without any limits or boundaries.
"Dorian Gray does not balance his love of beauty with a sense of morality, he sinks into selfish behavior."
"Wilde was an admirer of Pater, and it was Wilde who later became the representative figure of Aestheticism. Pater’s influence on The Picture of Dorian Gray was profound."
Since Oscar Wilde was a follower of Walter Pater, he wrote a book celebrating the beliefs of his mentor.
"Pater emphasized the fleeting nature of life and argued that the most important thing was to relish the exquisite sensations life brings, especially those stimulated by a work of art. The aim was to be fully present and to live vividly in each passing moment."
Even though Dorian does not age or bear any evidence of a conscience, his portrait does, therefore, I believe that Wilde was making a comment on the risk of the hedonistic lifestyle, recognizing the consequences. Although on the outside, the individual would appear to enjoy the indulgence in all pleasures, inside, there would be scars and all the signs of sin present in the ugliness that is well hidden.
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