How does Shakespeare seek to show that King Lear is a changed character by the end of the play?

In Act1 Scene1 the 'love test' takes place. This is when Lear wants his three daughters to confess who loves him the most to claim there share of kingdom. Lear wanted to split his kingdom between his three daughters. He expected himself to still be king but his daughters to rule the kingdom whilst he does nothing. Lear knew his youngest daughter Cordelia, who is kind, honest and sometimes naïve, was his favourite and Cordelia loved Lear the most but he still wanted a love test in which Cordelia says:

"I love you majesty according to my bond, no more nor less" (Cordelia)

Lear banishes Cordelia from the kingdom because he is vain and selfish. He expects Cordelia to say the same as his other two daughters if she had nothing better to say. Lear's eldest daughter Goneril, who is royal, autocrat and powerful, says

'Sir I love you more than word can wield the matter, dear than eyesight, liberty and space.' (Goneril)

Lear is flattered by this. Lear's second daughter says she loves her more than Goneril she says this to get a bigger piece of land than Goneril.

Lear believes everything his daughters say so this shows he likes people complimenting about him. Shakespeare tries to make the audience realize how much power Lear had and how he's throwing it away in a matter of time. So in the first scene it shows that Lear is self-centred and thinks only about himself. Lear cannot face up to the truth about what Cordelia says and so banishes her this shows that Lear is blind and cannot see what is true and what are lies. Lear then banishes Kent because he was trying to explain what Cordelia said was true. Lear also uses the royal "WE" all kings and queens use it but Lear uses it to show of his importance. Lear liked to be seen as a powerful king by repeatedly using WE. Lear throws away the good and keeps the evil who are Goneril and Regan. This scene introduces the theme about the relationship of a parent and child. It also shows that King Lear has created a downfall for himself. Lear is also stubborn and bad-tempered we know this because the way he talks to Kent when Kent tries to stick up for Cordelia.

"Come not between the dragon and his wrath'' (Lear)

After the love test Goneril and Regan talk about Lear and they themselves say that his age has changed him. Lear thinks his daughters love him whilst they are the ones who plot against him. :

"You see how full of changes his age is, the observation we have made of it hath not been little; he always lov'd our sister most, and with what poor judgement he hath cast her off, appears too grossly." (Goneril)

In act3 scene4 his downfall starts. In this scene Lear goes mad and he is locked out in the storm so this shows us that he has changed from the powerful king, in a castle to just a poor man in the storm. He treats Edgar like his own son. We know he is a mad man because he tears of his clothes in the storm because he wants to be cleansed of the evil. He refuses to take shelter from the storm here we know he is a bit crazy and mad because no one goes out in a storm naked. Shakespeare uses this scene to add detail to Lear's mental behaviour. There is a lot of irony in this scene, king Lear rips of his clothes to look like Edgar who is also stark naked. He calls tom 'a learned philosopher' as he is the true nature of mankind.

In this scene Lear is mad and has lost all his pride he had in the first scene. Lear asks Kent whether he's going to break his heart to. This shows he is mad because he thinks everyone will break his heart just like his daughters did. In the storm Lear noticeably changes. Lear realises he has lost his power and says he is weak and unloved.

"Here I stand your slave. A poor infirm, weak and despised old man"(Lear)

In act5 scene3 Lear shows he was wrong to banish Cordelia from the kingdom. In this scene everything falls apart for Lear.

"Pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old and foolish" (Lear)

Here he asks for forgiveness to his daughter Cordelia. He accepts his guilt and loves Cordelia for what she is.

"If you have poison for me, I will drink it" (Lear)

Lear admits he was wrong, Cordelia almost certainly knew that, but Lear then goes on blaming Goneril and Regan for his downfall. Lear changes in more than one way but he still has his pride at the end because he goes on blaming Goneril and Regan without realising the part he played, he started it all. Lear knows it was his fault but doesn't want to admit it.

"I know you do not love me, for your sisters have, as I do remember, done me wrong" (Lear)

In this last scene Lear shows a few changes but mostly he is the same King Lear he was in the first scene. He changes because he asks Cordelia for forgiveness but is the same because he doesn't blame himself for everything that happened but blames Goneril and Regan.

In conclusion I think king Lear is a changed character by the end of the play because at the beginning of the play he was proud, selfish and thought only about himself. He didn't want to listen to anyone but himself. But coming to the end of the play he knew it was wrong to banish Cordelia from the kingdom and so went to her and asked for forgiveness. He was also depressed at the end because Cordelia dies; he loses his wealth, power and his three daughters.