“Oliver, Oliver, never before has a boy wanted more! Oliver, Oliver, won’t ask for more when he knows what's in store~” -- these lyrics are from one of the songs sung by the actors in “Oliver!”, the adapted musical drama filmed in 1968 based on Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” written in 1838. When I first watched the musical on television, I was captivated by the actors and the music and wanted more of the story.

To know more about the main character Oliver, I borrowed the book “Oliver Twist” from the library. “Oliver Twist” is one of the most famous works of Charles Dickens and there are many film, television, and musical adaptations of the famous works. One of the more well-known versions should be “Oliver!”, the musical drama film released in 1968, which won many awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1969.

“Oliver Twist” is about the poor sad life of Oliver who is an orphan since birth. When he is a little older, he is being forced to work as an apprentice to an undertaker. After constantly being mistreated, he flees to London, only to find himself falling into a den of young pickpockets. On one of the pickpocket outings, Oliver is hurt and a gentleman takes mercy on him, taking care of him and a special bond develops between them. Later it is found that Oliver is the son of a rich man and the inheritor of a large fortune. In the end, the gentleman adopts Oliver and they both start a new life in another nice place.

At first sight, Oliver Twist, a boy brought up without the love of parents, who suffered hunger and peer bullying all through childhood, might seem to be a character most of us would feel sorry for. Yet Oliver never once feels sorry for himself. He just accepts his fate and tries his best to survive. I think we can all learn from Oliver. At times of hardship, we should not give up but should persevere to achieve the things we wish for from the heart.