Cultural integration through sensory walks in Han Suyin’s Till Morning Comes

Despite its rich thematic scope, Till Morning Comes (1982) by Asian American mixed-race writer, Han Suyin has received limited critical attention, particularly regarding its psychogeographical dimensions. This article addresses this gap by exploring the sensory walks of the diasporic female protagonist, whose movement through spaces is enriched by a heightened multisensory engagement. Walking is viewed as a physical act that anchors her diasporic identity, intricately connecting with an array of sensory activations that shape her encounters with the Chinese landscape. Using the lens of sensory experience and embodied movement, this study investigates how the protagonist’s walks create a psychogeographical quality, merging urban encounters with personal introspection and influencing her journey of integration into Chinese culture. The findings elucidate that Han Suyin highlights the sensory complexity of cultural integration, emphasizing the profound relationship between human subjects and their environment. It positions the novel in the fields of diasporic and psychogeographical studies, contributing to the exploration of emotional dimensions of diasporic experiences.

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