In his letter, the peddler signs himself as “Captain von Stahle,” adopting the identity the ironmaster initially mistook him for. This self-designation reflects the peddler’s transformed sense of self-worth and dignity, inspired by Edla’s compassion and trust. By embracing this honorable title, he symbolically sheds his former identity as a petty thief and aspires to live up to the respect he was shown, capturing the story’s themes of redemption and the transformative power of kindness.