In Act I, a group of French citizens flee Rouen, which has been occupied by the Prussians, travelling to Le Havre in a stagecoach.
In Act II, the travelers learn that the Prussian commandant will not permit them to continue on their way unless Boule sleeps with him.
Alex Ross of The New Yorker called The Greater Good "a tightly constructed, vividly imagined piece that may mark the emergence of a major opera composer."
The Los Angeles Times, despite complaining that "exploring [the characters'] inner lives leads nowhere", praised Hartke's music for its liveliness and theatrical flair.
On the other hand, the Toronto Star said that "Hartke's music, while easy enough to listen to, became even easier to forget".