The Businessman offers a vividly crafted depiction of a realm where nature, humanity, and the ethereal seamlessly intertwine, forming an existence that effortlessly surpasses mundane human concerns. Death itself is merely a fleeting shadow upon a person's being; from its embrace arises a new beginning in the celestial beyond. The true demise lies not in the cessation of life, but in the absence of creative thought. Within the pages of The Businessman, imagination becomes the gateway to uncovering the secrets of the universe. Through its lens, one can glimpse enchanting wood nymphs, sinister demons, and even spiritually enlightened amphibians. Indeed, the very essence of the afterlife is woven by creativity: "Heaven is no more than a fantasm generated by the excess energies of the pooled imaginations of the blessed."

The Businessman is a tapestry woven with a myriad of intricate themes. Beyond the exploration of a bewildered society, the inevitability of death, and the boundless realm of imagination, Disch delves into the depths of both sexual and spiritual love, the essence of Christianity, the mystery of dreams, and the qualities that define our humanity. Remarkably, within this narrative, Disch dares to introduce the theme of hope, a rarity amidst his usual tapestry of satirical tragedies where protagonists often meet grim fates.

In this tale, however, the afterlife becomes a beacon of eternal bliss. It mirrors the trials of earthly existence, where spirits may languish in purgatorial torments, yet always cling to the promise of ascending heaven's hierarchy towards divine unity with God. Even Bob Glandier, the eponymous businessman—burdened by his corpulent physique, narrow mind, and murderous past, driven by insatiable greed and a pact with malevolence—finds himself in a state of limbo. His purgatorial existence parallels that of John Berryman's spirit, who, by the novel's conclusion, ascends to heaven. By extension, Glandier holds the potential to rise as well.