Final answer:
Phillips likely had conventional views of masculinity before the sinking of the USS Truxtun, valuing strength, stoicism, and protective capabilities. His experience with adversity would have tested these beliefs, reinforcing values like brotherhood, bravery, and defiance of fate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before the sinking of the USS Truxtun, Phillips likely held conventional beliefs about masculinity that were prevalent during his time. The societal norms of masculinity during this era often emphasized strength, stoicism, and the ability to provide and protect. The characterization and experiences of men facing adversity on the sea as presented in various literary and historical texts show men grappling with their mortality and the arbitrary nature of Fate. Their reactions to crisis situations often reveal an adherence to brotherhood and camaraderie, bravery, and an internal questioning of previously accepted notions of manliness.
In these perilous scenarios, such as the accounts of the USS Reuben James and the contemplations within dinghies, individuals confronted with their potential demise would likely have contemplated the significance of their lives and their roles as men. Actions during such times were tempered by the codes of masculinity through bravery, comradery, and a determination to survive against the odds.