“Betty” tells James's perspective in the fictional story shared with Taylor Swift's “August.”
The three-song sequence consists of “Cardigan,” “August,” and “Betty.” In the storyline, James has a summer relationship with the unnamed narrator of “August” before returning to his former relationship with Betty. “Betty” gives James the chance to explain his actions and seek reconciliation.
Swift created these characters and events as fiction for Folklore. The songs are often discussed as a connected narrative, but they remain separate compositions with different narrators, settings, and emotional emphasis.
A useful way to remember the sequence is that “Cardigan” is associated with Betty, “Betty” is associated with James, and “August” is voiced by the unnamed summer-romance character. The title “August” refers to the season and character perspective rather than a confirmed character name.