What made the young lord have a change of heart toward elderly?

In William Shakespeare's play "King Lear," the young lord who experiences a change of heart toward the elderly is Edmund. He is the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester. At the beginning of the play, Edmund is bitter and resentful toward his legitimate brother, Edgar, and he schemes to get him disinherited. He tricks his father into believing that Edgar wants to kill him, which leads to Edgar fleeing from home.

But as the play progresses, Edmund slowly begins to change. He witnesses the terrible suffering of King Lear, who has been betrayed by his own daughters and forced to live in misery. He also sees the loyalty and devotion of Kent, the king's faithful old servant. As a result of these experiences, Edmund begins to see the value of compassion and kindness, and he eventually turns against his wicked schemes and tries to help Lear and Edgar.

Here are a few key moments that contribute to Edmund's change of heart:

King Lear's suffering: Edmund sees the terrible state that King Lear has been reduced to because of the cruelty of his daughters. Lear is homeless, starving, and almost insane. Edmund begins to see how wrong it was for him to help Goneril and Regan betray their father, and he resolves to try to help Lear.

Kent's loyalty: Edmund is impressed by the loyalty and devotion of Kent, who remains faithful to Lear even when everyone else has abandoned him. Kent's kindness and compassion make Edmund understand the importance of these qualities, and he starts to regret his own lack of compassion.

Edgar's forgiveness: When Edmund is about to be killed by his brother Edgar, Edgar refuses to take revenge. Instead, he offers Edmund forgiveness and mercy. This act of kindness has a profound effect on Edmund, and it finally allows him to let go of his hatred and bitterness.

By the end of the play, Edmund has completely transformed. He has gone from being a wicked and heartless schemer to a repentant and compassionate young man. His change of heart is a powerful reminder of the goodness that can exist even in the most flawed individuals.