Shakespeare's Henry IV

Prince Hal in Henry IV is a perfect example of a person who defines himself using the people around him. He associates with the pub crawlers in order to give himself a bad reputation and to feel better about himself. He wants to disappoint the country so he can redeem "time when men think least I will." I think he also has a bit of the rebel going on there too; he doesn't want to become his father so he acts in opposition to his father. His actions are defined by how he wants to impact other people. He knows he is at least socially superior to the pub crawlers, and hangs out with them to boost his self image by being better in comparison. His hopes revolve around other people: hoping to redeem himself to his father by killing Hotspur, hoping to become better than Hotspur, hoping to one day be a great and respected ruler. Hal is a "teacher and a learner," interacting with the the people around him and acknoewledging and amending his mistakes. He takes responsibility by leading part of the army and becomes more respectable through his role and his care for his father shown when he saves the king's life. Hal casts off the pub crawlers and Falstaff in favor of the court and his father, changing his associates to change who he is. He believes he is a better person because of the company he decides to keep.