1) In this case, 'I free myself' - free is the verb. The act of freeing or releasing oneself from something that holds you back. To say, 'I try to free myself' suggests that he is attempting to do so, not that he did.
2) A gesture is like a symbolic act. 'Gestures of love' would have been more accurate, but a 'love gesture' in a relationship is something you do to show you love someone, e.g. buy them flowers, do something nice for them, etc.
Hope that helps.