Gabriel's Inferno - Ending Explained

The plot of "Gabriel's Inferno" culminates in Gabriel finally remembering his first encounter with Julia. He recalls the night in the orchard where he, in a drunken state, was kind to a young, sad girl whom he called his "Beatrice." This memory unlocks his understanding of their deep connection and solidifies his belief that she is his destiny. After a period of intense push-and-pull, where Gabriel's cruelty is followed by apologies, he breaks down his final barriers. The professional and emotional distance he maintained collapses, and they confess their love for one another.

A significant hidden meaning that becomes clear is the source of Gabriel's self-hatred. In Part III, he reveals to Julia that his past of addiction led to the miscarriage and death of his unborn daughter, Maia, with a previous partner. This tragic event is the root of his personal "inferno," his belief that he is unforgivable. Julia, in turn, reveals the details of her own past trauma involving an abusive ex-boyfriend, which explains her profound shyness and fear. By sharing their deepest secrets and vulnerabilities, they establish a foundation of complete trust. The story ends with Gabriel promising Julia a trip to Florence, a symbolic journey to the home of Dante and Beatrice, where they can begin a new life together, free from the shadows of their pasts. Their relationship is consummated, representing not just a physical union but the merging of two healed souls, with Gabriel finally feeling worthy of love and redemption.

While the dominant reading of "Gabriel's Inferno" is that of a grand, redemptive romance, alternative interpretations, particularly from critics, focus on the problematic power dynamics at its core. Some argue that the narrative glorifies an unethical relationship between a professor and his student. From this perspective, Gabriel's behavior—which includes public humiliation, jealousy, and possessiveness—is not a sign of a tormented Byronic hero but rather of emotional abuse and manipulation. Julia's meekness and immediate forgiveness of his transgressions can be interpreted not as compassionate strength, but as a depiction of a vulnerable woman being drawn into a controlling relationship. In this reading, the romance is less a tale of mutual salvation and more a fantasy that glosses over serious ethical breaches and potentially harmful relationship patterns for the sake of melodrama.