After having read Carwin's confessions of guilt, I am starting to think that he has a thing for Clara. After all, both he and Pleyel have studied her at length. By his own admission at the beginning of chapter 23, he began learning things about her long before their first meeting. He goes on to say that "I had seen much of the world, but your character exhibited a specimen of human powers that was wholly new to me (234)." It is this curiosity, I believe, that lead him to interjection himself into her life. He goes on to recount of all the various times and ways in which he observed her life and mannerisms. You wouldn't hide in someone's closet, read their diary, go through personal belongings, and learn all that you can about them if you didn't have some type of romantic feelings for them. I think that he was using the servant as a pawn but she's unaware of it (though he is paying her for her services). After all, it is Judith's conversations about Clara and her modification to the cellar door that all Carwin to get into Clara's house and mind. The fact that Judith and Clara contrast so greatly in virtue may have also contributed to Carwin's infatuation with her. Because he is a criminal, it is probably rare that he meets a lot of people who are like Clara.
His deception of Pleyel could also be seen as an attempt to have Clara to himself. On page 239 of the text, he does indeed reveal that it would bring him great satisfaction to deceive a man as educated as Pleyel, but I believe that he had other motives in doing so. He says that he is acquainted with the rumors of Clara being in love with him and he may have taken this to heart. In theory, with Pleyel out of the way he would have a better chance at getting to be with Clara more. On page 229 when he is telling Clara about the time he successfully tricked Wieland and Pleyel into believing that Theresa de Stolberg was dead, he says "the temptation to interfere in this dispute was irresistible. In vain I contended with inveterate habits. I disguised to myself the impropriety of my conduct, by recollection the benefits which it might produce." I think the benefits he speaks of were to weaken the connection between Pleyel and Clara. He may have been trying to throw Pleyel into a depression so that Clara would see how in love he was with Theresa. Clara herself made note of how Pleyel became distant after hearing this news. Carwin's intention may have been to weaken the love that Clara and Pleyel had for each other so that when he did finally meet Clara, she would be more inclined to have romantic feelings towards him (maybe a bit far fetched, but that's just how I see it). Love does make people do and crazy things and think crazy thoughts.
There have been talks in class about a benevolent voice that protects Clara, and I believe Carwin to be the source of said voice. On page 244 (the end of chapter 23) in regards to her finding Catherine's body, he says "I dreaded the effects which this shocking exhibition, bursting on you unprepared sensed, might produce." It is at this point that he tries to steer Clara away from her room but is caught in the process. He seems to genuinely care for her well-being and he wants to help her though he goes about it the wrong way.
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