The Anatomy of the Gangster: Why Peaky Blinders Fascinates Us Trauma as a Driving Force What sets Peaky Blinders apart from other crime dramas is its deep roots in the trauma of World War I. Tommy, Arthur, and John aren't criminals for pleasure, but out of a need for mental survival. They returned from the French tunnels "dead inside." The "France" they constantly refer to isn't a country — it's a mental state of hell on earth. Tommy (The Brain): He represents cold, dissociated intelligence. He compartmentalises his emotions to function. He's the ultimate leader, but also the loneliest. He fascinates us because he dares to do what we don't: take total control of his destiny, even at the cost of his inner peace. Arthur (The Heart): He is raw, fallible, angry humanity. He desperately seeks an authority figure (his father, Tommy, God) to channel his violence. He's touching because he's unfiltered, loyal, and deeply wounded. He's the soldier who needs a war to exist. Polly (The Intuition): She embodies feminine power in a man's world. She doesn't lead through physical force but through psychological and mystical insight. She's proof that power isn't just about muscle. She manages the group's guilt and morality. Alfie (The Word): He's proof that intelligence is the most dangerous weapon. He wields language like a blade, destabilising his opponents with absurdity and raw truth. He represents the chaos necessary for any evolution. Did You Know? Decoding the Psychological Profiles The "Peaky Blinders" gang really did exist in Birmingham, but they operated in the 1890s, long before the show's Shelby family. The myth of razor blades sewn into caps is likely an urban legend (disposable razor blades were a rare luxury at the time). The name more likely came from the elegance of their caps ("peak") that dazzled ("blinded") with their style, or that they pulled down over their eyes to hide their identity. The characters created by Steven Knight are powerful modern archetypes t...