The story of Le Bel Inconnu is a common one that appears in the mythologies of many countries. The main character is described as being a young man, who, until the beginning of the story, lived secluded from the rest of society. In most versions, the young man lived inside a forest, always together with his mother and with no knowledge about his father. Then, something awakes inside the young man's heart the desire to gain a name for himself and become a knight, thus sending him on a dangerous quest to prove his worthiness.
The story of Le Bel Inconnu is similar to other knightly stories written around the same time and in all cases, a great accent is put on the idea of honor. This poem begins when the main character reaches King Arthur's court, where he accepts to embark on a dangerous quest to help a wealthy woman. While he is not yet a knight, he takes the role of one and the King promises him a knighthood and to make him a member of the Round Table if he will prove successful in helping the woman.
Le Bel Inconnu starts on his journey to save the woman named Esmerée. The quest is a dangerous one but it is the way through which the young man proves his qualities and capabilities. At the end of his heroic quest, the young man finds his real name, Guiglain. A voice also tells him he is, in fact, the son of the famous knight Gauvain, one of the most famous and written about a member of the Round Table. His supernatural powers are also linked to his mother, a powerful forest-dwelling named Blanchemal, who, for a long period of time, was successful in keeping her son separated from his father's influence.
The end of the poem is also interesting, showing how women and marriage were seen during those times. After Esmerée is saved by Guiglain, she offers herself as a marriage option to the young man. She does not do this because she loves him, but mainly because she knows he can protect her and offer her the stability she wants. Guillain refuses and instead chooses to go back to another woman he met and saved during his quests, named the Beautiful Woman. It is unsure whether the two actually get married but it is clear they love one another.
Unfortunately, Le Bel Inconnu is unable to stay committed to one woman and is instead more attracted by the fame and power offed by the position as a knight. Because of this, he returns to King Arthur where he is made a knight of the Round Table and told by his king to marry Esmerée. Despite most likely abandoning his wife, Le Bel Inconnu is not criticized by the narrator, but rather praised for his decision to do what is nobler.
