Since times unknown, public speaking has been used as a tool by great leaders to influence the general public and to gain reputations. Through inspiring and motivating public speeches, leaders have for centuries spread their messages to the world at large. People who possess the qualities of a great prayer have made their works and ideas immortal, using the concepts of the ‘Sublime’.

It was Longinus who said (in ‘On the Sublime’) that “orators of great passion triumph.” ‘On the Sublime’ by Longinus, was one of the first works of its kind that provided insight into the great importance of sublimity and aesthetics in the acquisition of ecstasy, elevation and height. He said that sublimity has a “beautiful and genuine effect” that “always pleases and pleases everyone.” Here, the different aspects of prayer in relation to Sublimity, in Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech, ‘I have a dream’, will be explored and discussed.

Martin Luther King’s well-known speech, ‘I have a dream’ incorporates the qualities of sublimity into it. This is the reason why the speech is universally recognized and appreciated even today. Scholars from different fields of life are inspired by King’s words and talk about the greatness of his speech.

In evaluating the qualities of Martin Luther King as a successful speaker, a guide can be taken from the parameters given by Longinus, stating the characteristics of sublime writings.

As a prerequisite for any sublime writing Longinus considers, the power of expression as one. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech shows his complete control over the ability to convey his ideas in extraordinary expression. Martin Luther King’s speech is a combination of eloquent style and great use of words, enriched with hope and clarity of ideas. He says at the beginning of the speech: “I am happy to join you today in what will go down in history as the largest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” Being the first sentence of his speech, it has immense importance. Through this phrase, King shows his “ability to grasp great conceptions.” In the world of 1963, King stood up for black people to speak out for freedom. The word “freedom” is repeated throughout the speech, as it is one of the main themes of the speech. It was this great concept of freedom that gave Martin Luther King recognition among the people of America and the world.

His speech gained eminence as it created a strong passion in the listeners. Martin Luther King addressed the audience with great fervor and strength; He emphasized all his ideas in powerful phrases and thus created an atmosphere of excitement and inspiration.

The key characteristic of Martin Luther King’s speech is the use of metaphors, to create an association of the concepts of his speech with concrete images and emotions. He says: “One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly paralyzed by the handcuffs of segregation and the chains of discrimination.”

It can be analyzed from the previous sentences that King has employed the use of metaphors in his speech to allow him the ability to transport his audience to a state where they can easily relate to each word and in the true sense feel each word with its actual intensity. . When King speaks of the ‘handcuffs of segregation’ and the ‘chains of discrimination’, he paints a picture of black people in utter despair, hopelessness and victimization. In addition, he uses metaphors such as ‘suffocating summer of black’s legitimate discontent’, here the word suffocating allows listeners to feel the harshness of time facing black as they compare it to the harshest summers they have ever experienced. Regarding the use of words, Longinus said: “… great words attract and delight listeners wonderfully … they bring greatness, beauty, laughter, weight, strength, mastery and a joy of their own.”

Martin Luther King also incorporated the technique of using repetition of words and phrases in his speech. This technique not only put emphasis on certain things but also generated strong emotions among the leaders. As an example, the following lines of speech can be considered: ‘Now is the time to make the promises of democracy come true. Now is the time to move from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children. ‘

The repetition of the word “now” gave Martin Luther King the opportunity to create a unique sense of urgency and excitement among listeners. The passion of the speech peaked at this point, as the audience’s emotions align with the leader. This success is achieved through the use of the sublimity of words. Longinus says that about passion. “… nothing reaches a great eloquence son surely like genuine passion in the right place.” This success of Martin Luther King is due to his passion when he talks about the rights of blacks.

Martin Luther King gained listeners’ attention by cultivating credible information in his speech; in the form of biblical references and literary allusions. Add in a moment that; “We hold that these truths are self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Here Martin Luther King refers to an important document, the Declaration of Independence, and provides his listeners with a benchmark to validate his point and make his position credible.

Martin Luther King managed to make his speech a milestone in history by wrapping his words sublimely. The very simple example of this is the repetition of the phrase “I have a dream.” Build in your audience a quest for freedom by painting a ‘dream’ for them and giving them the opportunity to recognize their dreams.

This speech is an amalgamation of excellent diction, powerful sentences, classic imagery, and strong audience contact. In addition to this, his speech exhibits a rhythmic arrangement of words and phrases. Martin Luther King prays with such fluency and passion that his words create an atmosphere that mesmerizes his listeners and forces them to agree with his points. In short, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech contains all the qualities of sublimity mentioned by Longinus.