Honestly, there are two sides to the argument. Her suffering was heroic because she overcame public humiliation and the shame held upon her, and in the end, she became a person of extraordinary strength. A hero tends to give back to their community in ways and opportunities their community has never given them. She became a giver to the less fortunate, and is in many ways, selfless. She is an incredibly strong woman, who is able to get through her personal suffering, and who remained a model for women that showed they could make it on their own without losing dignity or being crushed by society through times of judgement. As she bears the shame of her sin on a daily basis, she accepts the sin as her own, and is committed to accept her punishment. She inspires others not only with her humility and good deeds, but also with her willingness to take responsibility for what she has done.
I say that silent suffering isn't truly heroic because Hester's silence meant that justice was not served for the man that committed the sin along with her. She remained silent to protect the reputation of a man who would have suffered significantly if she were to reveal him. We tend to value the person who exposes a crime, which she didn't do. Therefore we do not value the weak either. She didn't speak out about her injustice or take any opportunities to get out of her shame, imprisonment, or her way of life. She chose to suffer instead of standing up for herself. If a true hero cant stick up for themselves, who can they stick up for?
I say that silent suffering isn't truly heroic because Hester's silence meant that justice was not served for the man that committed the sin along with her. She remained silent to protect the reputation of a man who would have suffered significantly if she were to reveal him. We tend to value the person who exposes a crime, which she didn't do. Therefore we do not value the weak either. She didn't speak out about her injustice or take any opportunities to get out of her shame, imprisonment, or her way of life. She chose to suffer instead of standing up for herself. If a true hero cant stick up for themselves, who can they stick up for?