During act 1.4, lines 17-24, Duncan thanks Macbeth after the old Thane of Cawdor has been executed for treason. Duncan’s knowledge of people and Shakespeare’s powers of diction are highlighted. This scene shows the reader of Macbeth how good of a person Duncan was, and shows why Macbeth may have had significant doubts about killing Duncan since Duncan was always nice and fair to Macbeth. When Duncan says, “That the proportion of both of thanks and/ Payment might have been mine”, he means that Duncan really wishes that he could pay Macbeth back for what he had done. Duncan elaborates on this by saying, “More is thy due than more than all can pay.” Duncan knows that Macbeth deserves his complete thanks, and knows the importance of him knowing
