How does William shakespeare make duncan's murder seem even more monstrous than it might have been?

Answer 1

Macbeth himself tells us the factors that make the murder monstrous in Act 1 Scene 2. "First as his subject and his kinsman, both strong against the deed, then as his host who should against his murderer bar the door, not bear the knife himself." It's bad enough to kill a king, and a relative, but to kill someone who has taken shelter under your roof is to violate a strong taboo. In productions, Duncan is usually played as a saintly, harmless and extremely elderly man (much older than is implied in the text), which adds to the heinousness.

Answer 2

Shakespeare emphasizes Duncan's kindness and innocence by portraying him as a virtuous and benevolent king. Duncan's murder is particularly heinous because it is committed in his own home, a place that should be safe and sacred. The betrayal by Macbeth, a trusted friend and loyal subject, adds to the magnitude of the crime.