Had her father only avoided the clutches of the demon drink, by taking the pledge or those powders the drink habit cured in Pearson’s Weekly, she might now be rolling in her carriage, second to none. Over and over had she told herself that as she mused by the dying embers in a brown study without the lamp because she hated two lights or oftentimes gazing out of the window dreamily by the hour at the rain falling on the rusty bucket, thinking. But that vile decoction which has ruined so many hearths and homes had cast its shadow over her childhood days. Nay, she had even witnessed in the home circle deeds of violence caused by intemperance and had seen her own father, a prey to the fumes of intoxication, forget himself completely for if there was one thing of all things that Gerty knew it was that the man who lifts his hand to a woman save in the way of kindness, deserves to be branded as the lowest of the low.

From “Ulysses” by James Joyce

In this paragraph, James Joyce condemns domestic violence as an abominable act of brutality against women. “The man who lifts his hand to a woman save in the way of kindness, deserves to be branded as the lowest of the low.” As in this case, alcohol is often blamed for this behavior.  Yet I strongly believe that the “demon drink” is just an excuse. A good and decent person will never commit such a loathsome crime under the influence of alcohol.