Gilead in The Handmaid's Tale is a totalitarian theocratic state that occupies much of what was formerly the United States, primarily in the northeastern region. It includes states such as Massachusetts, where the story is mainly set around Boston and the Harvard Square area, as well as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois (except Chicago), Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts

. The Republic of Gilead was established after a military coup that overthrew the U.S. government. Its society is patriarchal and theocratic, with strict social classes and roles, especially for women. The main action of the novel takes place in the Boston area, specifically near Harvard University, which has been repurposed as the headquarters for Gilead's secret police

. In the TV series, Gilead's control extends over most of the continental U.S., except for Alaska and Hawaii, which remain outside its reach. However, Gilead's grip is strongest in the Northeast, including Boston and Washington D.C., while other areas like Chicago are contested by rebels

. In summary, Gilead is located primarily in the northeastern United States, with Boston and its surroundings as a central setting, and it controls a large portion of the former U.S. territory under a strict theocratic regime