Life is hope metaphor
When being asked by Hester if he is happy with his new opportunity, Gerard answers that everything that was out of reach of hope before may be within the reach of hope new. To this Hester answers that nothing should be out of reach of hope, that life is hope. This statement is very much within Hester's pure character.
America as a paradise of women simile
Lady Caroline contemptuously talks about American girls taking all the good British men and comments why they don't stay in their own country because it is said to be a paradise of women. Lord Illingworth makes a humorous and sarcastic reply to this that their country being a paradise of women is the reason they, like Eve, want to leave the paradise.
Youth of America
Lord Illingworth's dislike of America doesn't end with cynical remarks about American girls. In his conversation to Mr. Kelvil he expresses his dislike on the notion of America's youth. He finds it ridiculous and says how their youth is their oldest tradition that has been going on for three hundred years. He remarks how upon hearing Americans talk about their youth one would imagine that they are in their first childhood.
Intellect as an instrument on which one plays
In his conversation with Mr. Kelvil, Lord Illingworth makes a comment when being asked if he is really serious in the things he said that nothing is serious except passion. Intellect is not serious to him; it is only an instrument on which one plays. Lord Illingworth is a sort of character who has an always ready answer and that answer is usually made out of cynical contradiction.
