Gilead, in The Handmaid's Tale , is a totalitarian theocratic regime that occupies much of what was formerly the United States, primarily in the northeastern and midwestern regions. It includes states such 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 show is mainly set in the Boston area, which is a stronghold of Gilead
. Gilead borders Canada to the north and the Republic of Texas to the south
. Alaska and Hawaii remain outside Gilead's control and are still part of the United States
. The regime's control is strongest in the east, with some contested areas in the Midwest and South, and there are pockets of resistance, especially in cities like Chicago
. In summary, Gilead is located in the northeastern to midwestern United States, with Boston as a key setting, extending through many states in that region and bordering Canada to the north.
