Al's diner
Stephen King goes to great lengths to describe Al's diner, describing it in warm, vivid detail. This imagery underscores why so many characters view Al's diner as a safe place. Jake feels like the diner is another home; he feels safe enough to express himself and engage in dangerous activity because Al and the environment he created allow him to do so in an otherwise seemingly oppressive time for free thinkers.
The 1960s
By using detailed, evocative imagery, King is able to transport readers into the past. Readers can almost reach out and feel the clothes, culture, buildings, and trends of the 1960s. The world of 1963 itself is vibrant and alive and situates readers in the novel's setting.
Guns
Lee Harvey Oswald, who plans to use a gun to kill President Kennedy on November 22, 1963, is obsessed with finding what works for him. He tries different guns and ultimately decides on a Mannlicher-Carcano rifle. As Oswald grows closer to the fateful day of his assassination attempt, gun imagery becomes more common as both he and Jake start trying to find a gun. In Jake's case, that is so that he could defend himself and kill Oswald; however, Oswald wanted to use the gun for a singular purpose: to kill John F. Kennedy, President of the United States. Ultimately, guns are tools, but they reflect the mental state of both of the novel's main characters.
Frank Dunning's murders
Part of the reason Jake and Bill Turcotte decide to go back in time is so that he can stop Frank Dunning from killing his wife, who happens to be Bill's sister, and daughter. When Jake and Bill see the crime scene, they are repulsed. King includes grisly, intense imagery to underscore the depravity of the crimes and the stakes involved in their mission.
