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It seems to have been the A-list pop-star equivalent of firing upAO3.
These three songs explore a love triangle from all three peoples perspectives at different times in their lives.
As many fans have noticed, the trio of cardigan, august, and betty fits the bill.
In her telling, they had a passionate romance that ended when James cheated on her.
Chase two girls, lose the one / When you are young, they assume you know nothing.
But Betty says, I knew everything when I was young.
And she knew too that James would miss me once the thrill expired.
august
Now its time for Jamess paramour to tell her side of the story.
She was young and inexperienced, and if it wasnt love, it was at least infatuation.
betty
Finally, its Jamess turn.
Meanwhile, Betty found out what happened through a gossip named Inez, who will be important later.
Betty was so upset that she switched homerooms!
But she also throws in subtle signs that James is a bit too immature for the sentiment to stick.
First, minimization: Would you trust me if I told you it was just a summer thing?
Then, shrugging off responsibility: Im only 17, I dont know anything.
Throw in some deflection: Slept next to her, but I dreamt of you all summer long.
So, thats the basic plot a love triangle worthy ofDegrassi: The Next Generation.
But there are still more questions to explore.
Why Are People Saying the Story Is Queer Canon?
This ones easy to explain.
Ultimately,it works either way.
What Happened After James Showed Up at Bettys Door?
Both cardigan and betty end with one big question unresolved: Did Betty take James back?
Im inclined to say no.
It didnt work; the ending was what it was.
The music also points in that direction.
Cardigan is somber, contemplative, melancholy; Betty is a propulsive, major-chord jam.
Consider too that our narrators are speaking to us from two different time periods.
In everything that matters, these people are very far apart from each other.
Its not triumphant; its a little sad, like shes disappointed James lived up to her worst estimations.
When and Where Is All This Supposed to Be Taking Place?
Oddly enough, cardigan seems to be taking place in a slightly different universe from the other two.
In betty and august, everyones in high school.
Theres a homeroom, a school dance, and James is canonically 17 years old.
The first line of august mentions salt air, so wereprobably by the beach.
But in cardigan, everyone feels slightly older.
(Not that high-schoolers never do that kind of stuff, but collectively the tropes feel more early-20s.)
How do we square this?
I prefer to think that Swifts employing a more impressionistic approach.
Its her fantasy she can write what she wants to.
