At the start, Lear's pride is evident in his decision to test his daughters' love publicly. This sets the stage for his downfall. As the story progresses, his trust in the wrong daughters shows his poor judgment. Finally, his descent into madness is a clear sign of his tragic transformation.
In the beginning of the story, King Lear is a powerful and somewhat arrogant king. He makes the fateful decision to divide his kingdom based on his daughters' expressions of love. This decision is the first step in his tragic journey. As the plot unfolds, he realizes that he has been deceived by Goneril and Regan. His anger, despair, and self - reflection start to eat away at him. His growing madness is not only a physical state but also a symbol of his internal turmoil. By the end of the story, his complete downfall, both in terms of his power and his mental state, fully cements his status as a tragic figure. His character has been gradually and painfully transformed from a proud king to a pitiable and tragic figure through a series of events that expose his flaws and the harsh reality of his situation.