In this speaker's account, "society" takes the form of a proud man who shows off his creations: a row of identical puppets, all painted the same, all controlled by strings attached to their minds. The marionettes stand for people shaped to fit one mold, and the man treats that sameness as something to be proud of. His pride "poured from his mouth / thick and hot," which makes it feel overwhelming rather than warm.
The speaker doesn't join in his pleasure. Watching the "empty bodies and gaunt lives" twist under his fingers, they seem disturbed, even horrified. The last lines turn the scene personal. His voice, "sharp and glossy" like diamond, slides into the speaker's head with the command "you should be like this too." It's an invitation, but also a threat.
The mood is cold and uneasy. The poem's hard, bright images make pressure to conform feel polished and attractive on the surface, and quietly violent underneath.