What is described as "unexpiated guilt" in the context of the narrative?

In the context of "Fifth Business," the term "unexpiated guilt" refers specifically to the deeper emotional and psychological burdens carried by characters in relation to their past actions. The stone symbolizes a significant weight of guilt due to an incident involving the character Paul Dempster, where Dunstan Ramsay feels responsible for a series of events that led to Paul’s unfortunate life trajectory.

The stone represents not just a physical object but also embodies the guilt that Ramsay carries throughout his life. It is a reminder of his role in the traumatic event that affected Paul and serves as a metaphor for the unresolved feelings and the necessity for atonement. Throughout the novel, Dunstan grapples with his feelings of responsibility and guilt stemming from this incident, which ties into the theme of how unaddressed guilt can haunt an individual.

In contrast, while Dunstan Ramsay and Amasa Dempster deal with their own complex emotions, it is the stone itself that encapsulates the notion of unexpiated guilt directly tied to Ramsay's internal struggle. The character of Gyges, while interesting in the story, does not embody this theme of guilt in the same significant manner as the stone does.