"GERALD. Of course I am. It means everything to me things that were out of the reach of hope before may be within hope's reach now.
HESTER. Nothing should be out of the reach of hope. Life is a hope."
Gerald is asking Hester why she is the only one who hadn't congratulated him on the offer for the position of Lord Illingworth's secretary. Hester answers by asking him if he is happy with it. This is Gerard's answer. He sees his happiness materialistically. Getting this new position he will be able to provide for himself things that were out of reach before both materialistically and socially. Hester represents a naive, youthful character that believes that happiness doesn't only come with social status or money.
"In my young days, Miss Worsley, one never met any one in society who worked for their living. It was not considered the thing."
Lady Caroline is a character that represents British aristocracy and the old ways of living. She looks upon the youth and the new ways of working for ones living with contempt. Hester answers her that people who work for their living are those that are most respected and Lady Caroline gives her usual answer in form of sarcastic agreement.
"LORD ILLINGWORTH. That is its special vice. That is the special vice of the age. One should sympathise with the joy, the beauty, the colour of life. The less said about life's sores the better, Mr. Kelvil."
Lord Illingworth is having a conversation with Mr. Kelvil about the British politics. Mr. Kelvil mentions how the House of Commons has always had sympathy for the poor. This is Lord's Illingworth's answers which showcases his thoughts and willingness to ignore everything that is not pleasant, to ignore everything that brings sorrow. Now, speaking of sorrow, we can see a little bit of the author's voice in these quoted words from the play. After being imprisoned for his, at the time considered to be, immorality, Wilde wrote a long confessional letter to his friend called De Profundis. In that letter Wilde touches on leaving his life only for pleasure and leisure ignoring everything that brought sorrow, but he discovered that in sorrow lies the true of the beauty of life.
