The standard equipment for any angry mob that goes on a Witch Hunt or sets out to Eat the Rich. The mob may be going after a witch, an evil wizard, a vampire, a Mad Scientist, a creation of a Mad Scientist, a perverted person, an Evil Debt Collector, the privileged elite or any other unpopular local figure. If the mob is after the villain, he most probably ends up being Shamed by a Mob. If they're coming after the good guys for one reason or another (like if our heroes are hiding a Reluctant Monster), their best defense is Shaming the Mob or an obstacle that will force them to go one by one, raising the question of, "Who Will Bell the Cat?"

On occasion, however, they feature as the righteous outbreak of the people against an evil, but legally untouchable, character.

Related to the less focused, but more destructive, Powder Keg Crowd. Malicious Slander may have stirred them up; good luck finding out who, if anyone, is responsible for the rumors (though there may be a Rabble Rouser involved).

Truth in Television, of course; in prior centuries where the vast majority of the people were living in the countryside and couldn't necessarily afford proper arms, pitchforks (along with scythes and sickles) were inexpensive and quite versatile, and so it became a popular weapon to use in times of rebellion. Naturally, since these rebellions could occur at any time of the day, and fire itself is an extremely versatile tool or weapon, torches were par for the course, both out of necessity as well as the fact that they could be easily made in huge numbers very quickly, making them perfect weapons to be used by any angry mob.

Featured and parodied so many times, it's a definite Undead Horse Trope. A common parody is to ask the mob where they got their equipment on such short notice (often revealing it as something ridiculous), or for angry mobs to be judged by the quality of such equipment.

See also Kill It with Fire and Burn the Witch! for its inspiration. A Flame War happens when you take the sentiment behind this and apply it on the Internet. When you've got pitchforks but not torches, see Devil's Pitchfork, Prongs of Poseidon, Gardening-Variety Weapon. May or may not be sold to the mob by Opportunistic Vendors. If torches and pitchforks are featured in a musical, then an Angry Mob Song is pretty much guaranteed.

Contrast Swords to Plowshares, when peacetime makes people convert their weapons into farming implements or other nonviolent tools.

Examples