Why did Lysander want to go to his aunt's house in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream?

Lysander and
Hermia had been told by Theseus that they are forbidden to marry each other because Egeus,
Hermia's father, has decided she must marry Demetrius.

Hermia is in love with
Lysander, but under Athenian law her desires do not matter. A daughter is under the complete
control of her father and must marry the man he chooses for her. Although Hermia pleads with
Theseus a few days before his own marriage to see it her way, he will have none of it. He tells
her she must marry Demetrius or face either death or life in a convent.

As
one might expect, this makes Hermia very unhappy. However, Lysander mentions to her that he has
a widowed and wealthy aunt who lives outside of Athens. He suggests that, since he is like a son
to this aunt, she will accept him with open arms. The aunt lives outside of the jurisdiction of
Athens, so the two can freely marry there without having to fear repercussions. Lysander
explains the plan as follows:

I have a widow aunt, a
dowager

Of great revenue, and she hath no child.

From Athens is her house remote seven leagues,

And she
respects me as her only son.

There, gentle Hermia, may I marry
thee.

And to that place the sharp Athenian law

Cannot pursue us.

This plan makes Hermia
very happy, for she is not the type of person to take life lying down. She agrees to cross the
forest with Lysander, which, as we know, leads to many mishaps and adventures.