“Yes, that would serve to wrap the dreadful thing in. It had perhaps served often as a pall for the dead. Now it was to hide something that had a corruption of its own, worse than the corruption of death itself- something that would breed horrors and yet would never die.”

wilde, pg 153

After Dorian discovers the painting is taking on the burdens of his sins and not his own body, he decides to hide the paining away out of fear and repulsion. Placing a pall, or casket cover, over the painting is an act that symbolizes the death of a part of Dorian- the part that ages and bears the effects of sin and self punishment. Without these, Dorian does not appear to age, however his soul will always show the marks of his dark behaviors. Despite his appearance of beauty and purity, Dorian is quite turmoiled over the painting and its changing appearance. The painting represents Dorians soul, in a sense he will always be knowing of, and burdened by his poor behaviors even if other people are not able to see them.

Q: Is the painting a way of punishing Dorian for his suspected dark behaviors? Without the painting, he would not likely think about the effects of these behaviors on himself. Looking at the aging, scouring picture, Dorian is reminded of the guilt that should be following him.