What is the primary thematic focus of James Joyce’s short story collection 'Dubliners'?
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Correct answer: The spiritual and social paralysis of Dublin's inhabitants
Joyce intended 'Dubliners' to be a 'chapter of the moral history' of Ireland, using Dublin as the center of paralysis. The stories progress through childhood, adolescence, maturity, and public life to show how stagnation pervades every stage of existence.
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