Let’s address the women in Thomas Shelby’s life which is the focal point of discussion

  • Grace Burgess/Shelby – His 1st wife from an aristocratic family
  • Lizzie Starke/Shelby – 2nd Wife (ex-prostitute, but later employed in Shelby Corporation)
  • May Carleton (Rich Horse trainer)
  • Princess Tatiana Petrovna (Mad Russian royalty)
  • Jessie Eden (Communist Leader of the Unions)
  • Jessie_Eden
  • Grace Burgess/Shelby comes as an undercover cop to get information on Shelby brothers and instead falls for Thomas Shelby. Inspector Campbell who was trying to woo her, losses her to Thomas Shelby. At the end of season 1, She goes away and then comes back into Thomas Shelby’s life in season 2. Shelby’s get her husband killed (make it look like an accident so that Grace and Thomas can marry) and make a widow ready to be taken. She eventually marries him, but her illustrious family of Cavalrymen wears uniform on the wedding day, to show case their achievement, much to the dismay of Gypsy Shelby’s who loathed the World War I, where they were the infantrymen. She tries to legitimize the Shelby business via Foundations and all, but gets killed. Thomas Shelby has a son through her.
  • Lizzie Starke/Shelby – She is prostitute when Thomas meets her. At one point his brother John wanted to marry her, Thomas doesnot give permission, since she is a public woman and been sleeping with him. He later employs her in his office as a secretory, asks her to stop being with other men for money but uses her to honey trap and kill senior army man. She eventually becomes pregnant with his girl child, then he marries her.  Not entirely a fairy-tale love story, Lizzie is a matter of convenience for Thomas Shelby.
  • May Carleton is pure fascination, a high society woman with whom Thomas Shelby enjoys a fling or two, while she is training his horse for the race. She has got class and statue, I believe above Grace Burgess, but seems to be looking for some companionship. She is the most level-headed of the lot, not letting feeling mixed much, keeping it to the point. Very mature in handling unwanted situations.
  • Princess Tatiana Petrovna is a work and pleasure situation. Aristocratic Russians need to get a job done and they are willing to give princess also, to ensure its success. She has a wild side which is brought out and pushes Thomas to the edge, post their fling she updates him that there is man waiting for her in Europe. Thomas rightly puts, “poor man“, since having such a woman around permanently is an undesirable situation.
  • Jesse Eden – It is surprising that Thomas Shelby did not marry her, as she seems to be a genuine soul, I liked her the most. Thomas Shelby uses her completely to get more information on communist and at the same time bed her to make a more intimidate connection. She has knowledge of his past and tries to leverage into using it against him. However, Thomas uses information about her past to get her in his side, she had a boyfriend who had PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from world war I and shot himself dead. Jesse seemed to have compassion and empathy for a long-lasting relationship, along with feistiness to fight for her rights.

Now if you wish to marry such a guy, then either you will die or you will be used your entire life, like Lizzie is being done to. Not sure what is the female fascination or attraction, I have tried to list down few based on my understanding

  • The ultimate bad boy fantasy
  • One who cannot be tamed
  • One who will not share anything or thoughts with you ladies, hides emotions well.
  • He may manipulate you to get what he wants from you, and women love that thrill.
  • Self made man, Money via self-effort (but then men who follow rules and earn well should considered)
  • Women Wish to sin with the sinner
  • Desire to reform the sinner
  • Social climber
  • Cold and calculated
  • Grabs the opportunity when it comes
  • Loyalty towards family
  • Some women have Fascination towards violent men
  • Automatic protection from unwanted attention, by being in relationship with such men.
  • Liking for Alpha men.

References

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2442560/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_(TV_series)

https://peaky-blinders.fandom.com/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_Wiki

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b045fz8r

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2l9cwTRRfqrFkXKs8C18lyr/jessie-eden

The Real Thomas Shelby of Peaky Blinders