If someone in the town in "The Lottery" decided to speak up before the ritual began, it is likely that they would have faced backlash from the rest of the community. The tradition of the lottery was deeply rooted in the town's culture, and questioning it would have been seen as going against the norm. The townspeople may have become hostile towards the individual who spoke up, possibly even resorting to violence to maintain the status quo. Ultimately, it would have been difficult for one person to challenge the collective mindset of the community.
