The protagonist in The Strangers That Came to Town is a small town sheriff named John. He is a man of few words and is content with his life in the small town. He is a man of justice and order, and he is determined to protect his town from any danger. At the beginning of the story, John is content with his life and his role as sheriff. However, when the strangers arrive in town, John is forced to confront his own prejudices and fears. He is initially suspicious of the strangers and their motives, but as the story progresses, he begins to understand their plight and empathize with them. This leads him to take a stand against the townspeople who are trying to drive the strangers away. In the end, John is able to overcome his own prejudices and fears and accept the strangers as part of his community. This development of the theme of acceptance and understanding is a major part of the story and is a key part of John's character arc.