I'd say the answers are 'prejudice against dramas association with court life and monarchy', 'no audiences', 'lack of finances', and 'Puritans outlawed drama in some colonies'.
The four reasons American drama had a slow start are:
Prejudice against dramas association with court life and monarchy;
no audiences;
lack of finances;
Puritans outlawed drama in some colonies.
Until the post-World War I time period, American drama, confronted with religious hostility as well as by economic necessity and academic indifference. American drama found it difficult to de embraced as a respected literary genre at home.
The sinners that lie on the sand f a desert while fire rains on them in Canto VII are being punished for being consumed with anger during their lives. They are called the Wrathful.