The Scarlet Letter- Introduction

I loved the Scarlet Letter! except for maybe that the characters all talked the same, including Pearl. But then I realized that I ought to read the introduction. I didn't get it... What was the point of the introduction? I understood about Hawthorne's reason why he wrote the book (to make up for the shame he felt from his puritain ancestors) and that it describes the inspration with the old letter and the ghost. But what was the point of all the politics? This is probably why I got lost (my mind usually wanders on the subject of politics), but the Custom House and all the other characters in the intro (except maybe the old man) didn't really fit in anywhere. Can someone tell me what I missed?

How about to read the novel first and then the introduction,Shea?
I also have the problem ,if i read the introduction first i will be preoccupied,especially the political and sociological analysis .I think your first impression to the book is very important .The text itself provides us a space to imagine and the diverse interpretation will be welcomed.

I think it's just his way of having a go at certain people who sacked him from a job at a custom house (or something like that). The edition I read had another introduction explaining all that, but I've forgotten most of it. I don't think it has a great deal to do with the rest of the book, he's just using it as a vehicle.