“Cardigan” shares “august”’s fictional love triangle and tells Betty’s perspective.
Taylor Swift built the storyline across three Folklore songs: “Cardigan” from Betty’s viewpoint, “Betty” from James’s viewpoint, and “august” from the perspective of the unnamed girl involved with James during the summer.
The three songs do not function as a conventional linear plot with every detail stated directly. Instead, recurring names, memories, and emotional references let listeners piece together the relationship between Betty and James and the temporary romance involving the narrator of “august.”
Some listeners use “the Betty, James, and August triangle” as shorthand, although the narrator of “august” is never given an official name in the lyrics. Swift said she imagined names such as Augusta or Augustine for that character, but those are not stated names in the song.