Sunglasses represent several things in the novel. First, sunglasses are an item that Norman collects. Second, sunglasses represent a symbol or way for the characters in the novel to hide behind. As the saying goes, "the eyes are the windows to the soul," and when the eyes are hidden by sunglasses, the people behind the glasses can hide who they truly are or how they truly feel. When Norman is painting his set of portraits for art school, the people in his portraits all wear the sunglasses he has chosen for them.