ABSTRACT

The source of data in this study is a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe entitled
“Uncle Tom’s cabin” which is published in 1852. Many people considered that Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a novel which exposes the brutality of white in the enslavement of black in United States. It takes on the behalf of black and
endorsed the black freedom. However, Uncle Tom also depicted the old negro considered to present, it has created the archetype of black as inferior on what is called old negro. The theory that used in this study is representation theory
proposed by Stuart Hall and the method of analysis is semiotic. The result of this study indicated that uncle tom as the icon of old negro represent an inferiority. These result presented through four aspect which is physical, mental, intelectual and cultural represantion. Three main factors that support the result are
uneducated, obedient and faithful. Old negro image is a reverse with image that
new negro had. New negro is a present negro that had been develop from inferior to superior that made image of black race increase into a better image, which with this differences, establish the proper depiction of old negro itself. Furthermore,
old negro image through uncle tom is also being represented with some good impression through his closeness with his master and the white people through his obedient nature as a slave. With the existence of this novel, the reader can see how slavery occurred in formerly period and see how the figure of the Negro used to that showed through uncle tom and knew how the differences and changes that occurred in society, especially blacks.


Keywords: Representation, Semiotic, Old Negro, Novel