During the protracted siege of Troy, the love affair between the Trojan prince Troilus and the widow Cressida becomes a casualty of shifting political alliances and the brutal realities of war. Troilus seeks to secure the affection of Cressida amidst the chaos of the Trojan War, relying on the mediation of Pandarus to facilitate their union. Their burgeoning romance faces immediate opposition from the cynical demands of the military conflict and the eventual betrayal necessitated by a prisoner exchange. The narrative framework follows the classical operatic structure, utilizing musical motifs to underscore the tension between private desire and public duty. The world is defined by the rigid social hierarchies of ancient Troy and the looming threat of Greek victory.

Discussion often centers on the stylistic shift in Walton's composition, which blends traditional operatic forms with modern harmonic sensibilities. Readers and listeners frequently highlight the bleak, cynical tone that permeates the work, contrasting sharply with more romanticized interpretations of the Trojan myth. Critics often examine the effectiveness of the libretto in capturing the moral ambiguity of the characters as they navigate their doomed circumstances. The work is frequently analyzed for its structural balance, with many noting how the music serves to heighten the sense of inevitable tragedy throughout the three acts. This opera remains a subject of interest for those studying mid-twentieth-century British musical theater and its engagement with classical themes.