The metaphysical poets lived in a period of significant social and cultural change in the early 17th century. This era was marked by challenges to traditional beliefs due to scientific advances, religious and political upheavals, and the shift from medieval to modern society. The poets' works reflected the influences and pressures of this dynamic period, responding to the anxiety and uncertainty of the time. John Donne, the most renowned metaphysical poet, explored love in various forms—divine, sexual, and platonic.