Here's why:
* The Setting: The story opens with Mrs. Mallard receiving the news of her husband's death. She retreats to her room, where she looks out the window at "the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life." The open square is a symbol of the world outside her confined life.
* Mrs. Mallard's Transformation: As she gazes out at the open square, Mrs. Mallard experiences a profound emotional and psychological shift. She realizes she is free from her marriage and envisions a life filled with newfound independence and self-discovery.
* Contrast with the Confined Life: The open square contrasts sharply with the confined, suffocating life Mrs. Mallard has endured as a wife. It represents the open possibilities that she now perceives.
* The Paradox of Freedom: The story ends tragically with Mrs. Mallard dying upon learning that her husband is alive. However, the open square remains a symbol of her brief, powerful moment of freedom and self-awareness, highlighting the irony that true liberation can be fleeting.
In conclusion, the open square serves as a powerful symbol of Mrs. Mallard's longing for freedom and the vast possibilities that lay beyond the confines of her marriage. It represents the potential for change, growth, and self-discovery, which, ultimately, become tragically unattainable for her.