Dementia, Ageism and the Limits of Critique in Thea Astley’s Satire

Abstract

This essay examines how Thea Astley mobilises satire as a vehicle to counter ageism and the stigma surrounding dementia, particularly in its gendered inflections. It argues that Astley explores the limits of critique in later work like Coda, seeking to represent the continuing sense of personhood in the face of challenges to female independence while countering negative narratives of decline through humour.