Why does Hippolytus give up an easy life in preference to a rustic life in the lap of Nature?

Reason that Hippolytus give up an easy life in preference to a rustic life in the lap of Nature

Hippolytus was prince by birth. It is quite reasonable that he would prefer a court life. Despite all its splendor, pomp and pleasure, the court life of Athens was not without its vices. Over and above the presence of smart, beautiful woman made it susceptible to depravity and moral turpitude. Hippolytus, averse to worldly life, had no such ambition as to rule the state after his father. He preferred a life far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife. As such he was irresistibly drawn to the rustic life, unspoiled by modernity.

In Act II we find the Nurse trying to motivate Hippolytus to embrace a life which is normal to most men. She felt astonished to see a young man imposing strict discipline and celibacy upon him and behaving like one far advance in age. The prime time of his life should not be allowed to go astray. The whole mankind would face extinction if men kept away Venus from their life. So let the Bacchus rejuvenate his soul instead of yielding to melancholy.

The appeal of the Nurse fell into deaf ears. A worshipper of maiden goddess Diana and ardent devotee of Nature, Hippolytus major pastime were hunting. To counter the Nurse’s argument he replied that he neither sought empty honour nor perishable wealth.

So Hippolytus was averse to all earthly pleasures. The so called joys and excitements, luxuries and opted for the rustic life which filled his heart with heavenly joys.