A cry of pain and indignation broke from him. He could see no change, save that in the eyes there was a look of cunning and in the mouth the curved wrinkle of the hypocrite. The thing was still loathsome – more loathsome, if possible, than before – and the scarlet dew that spotted the hand seemed brighter, and more like blood newly spilled.
– Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter 20. Dorian vowed to give up his sinful ways and live a good life, following the death of James Vane in Chapter 19. His first good action was the decision not to seduce and ruin the inkeeper’s daughter at an inn where he stayed. So now Dorian rushes to the portrait to see if it has changed to reflect his better self and become more beautiful. But it hasn’t. All he sees are the cunning eyes and sneer of a hypocrite. The "scarlet dew" metaphor describing the bleeding hand in the portrait brings it alive for us in a shocking and vivid way. The painting with its magical powers knows him better than he knows himself and reflects his true soul. Dorian lets out a shreik of pain and anger.