In the storyline of Taylor Swift’s “august,” James reunites with Betty after his brief summer romance with the unnamed narrator ends. This makes James the connecting figure in the Folklore love triangle.
“august” tells the story from the perspective of a girl who falls for James during the summer. “Cardigan” is told from Betty’s viewpoint, while “Betty” presents James’s perspective and his attempt to address what happened.
The narrator’s romance with James is temporary and unequal. She hopes the relationship might become permanent, but James ultimately returns to Betty. Swift described the songs as fictional stories rather than direct autobiographical accounts.
A common mistake is to treat “August” as the narrator’s name. Swift said she imagined names such as Augusta or Augustine, but the song never officially identifies the character by name.