Both Uses of
penance
in
The Handmaid's Tale
- Saint Serena, on her knees, doing penance.†
Chpt 25 *
- I could hide behind the door, wait until she comes, hobbles along the hall, bearing whatever sentence, penance, punishment, jump out at her, knock her down, kick her sharply and accurately in the head.†
Chpt 46
Definition:
an act that shows sorrow for wrongdoing -- such as expressing regret, asking for forgiveness, or trying to make up for the harm done