what was your reaction of the murder of Duncan? why do you think Shakespeare has the murder committed offstage?

You have to answer the first part with your opinions but also during this time Shakespeare was writing to appease King James I (I think), so including the death of a king could likely be viewed as not only gory but also disrespectful.

I believe that the reasoning behind him being murdered offstage was because doing something so gruesome onstage doesn't leave much to the imagination, where-as murdering offstage does.

I answered part of the question but the first half is all up to you and you're own opinions.