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BBC's crime drama Peaky Blinders remains one of the most loved shows of all time. After a successful six-season run, it is finally getting a feature film release.
The show follows the rise of Cillian Murphy's Thomas Shelby, the head of the Peaky Blinders gang from Birmingham. Throughout the show's six seasons, Thomas continually strived for social mobility for himself and his family, even via illegal and immoral means.
While many would not agree with the gangster's ruthless ways, he is a classic example of a hardworking businessman who will not stop before he achieves success, and his iconic line from Season 4 proves that.
More on Thomas Shelby's rise to power in Peaky Blinders in our story.
*Disclaimer- This article is based on the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.*
Exploring the context of Thomas Shelby's iconic line from Peaky Blinders
While Thomas Shelby is a master of delivering iconic lines, this particular line from Peaky Blinders Season 4 Episode 4 captures the essence of his power and the aura of a hard-working man that everybody has come to love after the show's six seasons.
When Niall Devlin, a working-class man in Shelby Limited, tells Thomas the consequences of his company's war against the communists, he fears that the communists might win this battle. He calls them a pair of traitors to their class who would be shot at when the war ends.
While Thomas is also concerned about the factories and mines shutting down and his men's lives on the line, he is different from Devlin in his ideology because he might have used illegal and immoral means to reach power. Still, he is not a traitor to his class, and he delivers this iconic line:
"I am not a traitor to my class. I am just an extreme example of what a working man can achieve,"
Contextually, while Devlin implicitly blames him for the condition of his men, Thomas believes it is a necessary evil to achieve the extraordinary, which he has achieved for four seasons. During this particular scene, he also notes:
''As a businessman, I consider all possibilities''
While the world may not understand the limits Thomas underwent to achieve this success, he sure is an extreme example of the hard work that has to be done to achieve something extraordinary.
Thomas Shelby saw an opportunity while being loyal to his country in Peaky Blinders
When Peaky Blinders begins with Season 1, Thomas Shelby is a war veteran often plagued by harrowing flashbacks of WWI and his experiences in the tunnels of France.
While he is the ruthless leader of a Birmingham gang and often sees opportunities to rise to power, be in business or politics, he remains loyal to his class and country.
Not only does the Peaky Blinders often protect the people around them from communists and coppers, but he also asks Arthur to distribute the money among pub owners who were harassed by Campbell in Season 1.
During a key scene between Thomas and Campbell, when they make a negotiation about the stolen gun, Thomas famously says why he would shake the hand of a man who did not fight for his country. This proves that while Tommy is an opportunist who would go to any lengths to achieve success, he holds his class and country values in high regard.
His rise from a Birmingham gang leader dealing in criminal activities to the Labor Party MP and eventually a successful man in power proves that his iconic dialog is not just big words but his philosophy of life, which he stands by.
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