Society (/səˈsʌɪɪti/) - the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community.

An Inspector Calls by J.B Priestley was set in 1912 however it was written in 1945. Although I hate history, for this text I had to do my own research on the background of the play, because understanding the context makes the piece make more sense. 

Source- http://www.bbc.co.uk/
schools/gcsebitesize/ english_literature
/dramainspectorcalls/
0drama_inspector_contrev3.shtml

This table outlines the differences between 1912 and 1945, which clearly outlines the problems faced in the past. Priestley uses the representation of the Birling family to accentuate the numbed realities faced before the World Wars. The optimism displayed by the protagonist family creates dramatic irony which is acknowledged by the audience. Now we are in the 21st Century, we may look down upon the fact that this family thought that the war would be a success and the titanic wouldn't sink, but they wouldn't have known any better. 
Moreover, although I support the equality of rights in all aspects - for example, equality of race or class - at the same time, I don't think that it was wrong for the Birling family to feel more superior to those of a working class; because that's how society was at that time. 

I understand the plot outline of An Inspector Calls and understand some of the fundamental ideas of the text however, without reading through the whole play, it proves difficult at this stage to apply this knowledge effectively.