Final answer:
The protagonist is the central character in a narrative, who defends their rights or beliefs, and is central to the conflict within the story. The provided texts suggest a character engaged in a conflict over land rights, who fervently believes in the protection that his taxes should afford, indicating he is the protagonist of this story.
Step-by-step explanation:
The protagonist in a story is the main character who defends their interests or beliefs and is often seen as the hero, although not always, such as Satan in John Milton's Paradise Lost.
The conflict in a narrative is key to identifying the protagonist and the antagonist; the latter opposing the former, which can be a person, a nation, a group, or even a set of ideas. In the context provided, it seems there is a character defending his legal right to the land, suggesting he is the protagonist facing opposition, potentially from the establishment or specific adversaries.
In the excerpts provided, the character's struggle is evident. One character is fervently defending his right to refuse taxes until he is given the protection he believes his tax money should go towards, indicating a conflict with governmental or societal norms. This character, with strong beliefs in his rights and freedoms, can be considered a protagonist in the context of this struggle.