North Koreans wear figurative masks, which they learn to apply early in life. These masks allow them to appear vigilantly loyal and subservient to North Korea itself. Lee describes masks as essential to survival in a country where misspeaking or indulging too much can result in death. After leaving North Korea, Lee finds it difficult to shed her metaphorical mask and embrace her true, individual self, though she is ultimately able to do so. 

Markets are a frequently-occurring subject of Lee’s memoir. They are described as being like weeds: emerging everywhere, whether or not they are desired. North Korea detests markets as capitalist and does whatever they can to discourage them. Nonetheless, markets persist, whether they are foreign-currency dollar stores in which privileged citizens purchase foreign goods, open air food markets tolerated by the regime with a wink and a nod, or underground black-markets of illicit goods smuggled from China. China had, long ago, embraced markets within their communist system as inevitable, essential, and beneficial. South Korea is presented by Lee as one big market. North Korea does not tolerate markets, but their existence continues.