Lear's progress

I finished Lear this week.  I was touched again by Lear's progress from a self centered, shallow man to a deeper, more compassionate, aware and thoughtful human being.  I'm always caught by that bittersweet turning point in the storm where he first begins to think about the ills of others.  First the fool -

"Come on, my boy. How dost, my boy? Art cold?"

And then a broader consideration for all the poor -

"Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are,
That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,
How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides,
Your looped and windowed raggedness, defend you
From seasons such as these? O, I have ta'en
Too little care of this."

As it does for all of us, the growing awareness of needs we might have meet brings remorse.