In each of these cases, both characters were antagonists and openly accused others of committing acts they deemed wrong. Both of these people wanted to get something out of what they did. In The Crucible, Abigail Williams wanted to have John Proctor all to herself, so she began her reign of terror in Salem. In The Red Scare, Joseph McCarthy accused people of communism of presenting themselves as a hero and gaining fame for bringing the country's enemies to justice. With the fame and attention he was getting, he hoped to get a second term as senator. Both characters were ultimately made to look like fools and were forgotten