Folklore Love Triangle: An Analysis of a Shattered Love Story and Its Depiction of Wordsworth’s Legacy on Romanticism.
by Harits Haikal Azmi
Love is a natural feeling of finding an attraction to someone. It emanates from an indescribable spirit within a person’s emotion, guiding them to locate a companion to fill the gap in their heart. Love can come from anywhere, at any moment, and every person in the world deserves to love someone they are drawn to, making love a universal and subjective concept.
It is believed that the concept of love was prevalent in ancient Greece and that the word “love” was interpreted variously using three distinct words: Eros, Philia, and Agape.
Eros (the God) is a symbol of sexual desire; Philia defines it as affection and Agape refers to the love of God and mankind. These philosophies guided many philosophers and writers when writing love stories and songs, which contributed to the rise of the Romanticism Era in the late 18th century.
Around 400 years ago, an unfathomable period of Romanticism began to affect modern literature and the way people view love and the world. While Shakespeare has been celebrated for his incredible work on Romeo and Juliet, it is ideal to reintroduce Wordsworth on his journey to discover the relationship between love and nature, as well as his enormous contribution to modern songwriting. Although the shine of Romanticism has waned for more than a century, a gorgeous and talented young singer named Taylor Swift has turned up the light on modern Romanticism in her previous indie-alternative album, Folklore. Through the work of folklore, three songs titled “Cardigan,” “Betty,” and “August” were composed to portray the perspectives of three individuals on love. This article will bring the reader to look more into Romanticism, the tale of the love triangle, and discuss the impact of isolation on the songwriting process.
Part 1: Taylor Swift, Wordsworth, and Romanticism
Romanticism: The Oppression Towards Modern Society and Its Characteristics
From the late 18th to the mid-19th century in the Western world, the intellectual movement known as Romanticism influenced many works of literature, art, music, and architecture. It was introduced as an open opposition to materialistic life and European living standards. Lyrical Ballads, a collection of poetry written by William Wordsworth and first published in England, is often cited as the catalyst for the emergence of the Romantic period. William Wordsworth’s poem successfully conveys the significance of appreciating “sense and emotion,” in addition to merely taking reasons and order to comprehend the reality of living in the world. Furthermore, he emphasised the need to glamorise the beauty of nature by inserting flowers and the sky as metaphors in the poetry.
His legacy influenced many artists in the 19th century, such as William Blake and the writer of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley.
Conversely, Romanticism can be interpreted as a backlash against the “Enlightenment” and the notion of “rationality” that was popular among philosophers and scientists in the 18th century. In addition, this feature was introduced to counteract the environmental damage that could result from accepting the values of capitalism, physical materialism, and the scientific method.
To fully grasp the meaning behind Romanticism, we should indulge ourselves as if we live in a world without rules and imagine love as the most important aspect of our lives. Romanticism embraces individualism, creativity, liberty, freedom of speech, equality, the celebration of nature, celebration of isolation, interest in the common man, idealisation of women and pathetic fallacy. In order to be romantic, we need to have an appreciation for violence. A simple way to put it is that one must resort to any means, including violence, to win the heart of one’s true love. It is a cost a person must pay for loving someone, and no one should deny it. The word “violence” is used to highlight the behaviour of using physical and emotional means to hurt someone for their own advantage. Moreover, to be truly romantic, one must not only appreciate the beauty of nature but also find ways to let that beauty serve as an expression of affection, such as through the gift of flowers.
Through an appreciation of Romanticism, one can find many channels through which to express one’s affection for another, whether through the spiritual, the mental, or the implicit use of nature’s splendour.
Taylor Swift’s Depiction of William Wordsworth’s Legacy on Her Writing Folklore
With millions of records sold, Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the most successful female musicians of all time. Taylor Swift’s uncomplicated and honest approach to songwriting has been lauded by music critics. However, she is best known for her own romantic tales, and it has never been one of her specialities to pen such tales set anywhere other than in her own romantic world. People’s opinions of her writing style have shifted since the release of Folklore on July 24, 2020, which was during the Covid-19 pandemic. Folklore is the first album in which she writes the “love stories of the people I never met,” as she put it in an interview.
The indie folky-sounding “Folklore” is one of her breakthroughs on William Wordsworth’s legacy of modern romanticism. The album she produced featured songs she had written that exemplified nearly every aspect of Romanticism. One of the album’s most lauded features is her perfect mix of love triangle songs (“Cardigan,” “Betty,” and “August”) which will be the main subject of this article. In these songs, Swift explores love from the perspectives of a man and two women, each from a different time and place, with the names Betty, James, and Augustine.
Romanticism has contributed to establishing the subject of this love narrative, which aided in the development of each character and song. The love story contains not only romantic themes, but also elements of nature, politics, and psychology. As the songs tell a sequence of love stories, the songs are categorised as ballads, a kind of narrative poetry that Wordsworth employed frequently in his works such as “Composed on Westminster Bridge.” Swift employed this kind of narrative poetry to convey stories that connect a sequence of events through dialogue, rhythm, and refrain while maintaining an elevated level of quality. This is done to guarantee that listeners can follow the storyline while simultaneously enjoying the literary merit of the songs.
Moreover, Swift managed to include some Romanticism elements in the love triangle such as incorporating natural elements into the love triangle to depict Wordsworth legacy on the songs. “Garden” in “Betty” and “Summer” in “August” are two such examples which clarify the setting of these songs. In addition, she highlighted two features that have clear parallels with the 18th-century Romanticism era: the use of freedom of expression in romantic relationships and the courage of voicing opposition to the status quo and social stigma. A popular example is the lyric “sensual politics” in “Cardigan” which addresses how young people are underestimated in society based on their indifference to politics.
Part 2: Analysis of the Trilogy
“August”: Was There a Happy Ending?
The album’s eighth track, August, is retelling the story of a young girl named Augustine (as Swift described her in Folklore: The Long Pond Session), who was practically viewed as the third person due to Betty and James’s relationship. To further comprehend the love triangle, one should begin with this girl’s perspective. This song paints a picture of someone who has given in to an unfaithful relationship, using memories from the past and the present. Although the term “unfaithful” may seem improper to some, the truth is that Augustine did not realise she was in a two-sided relationship until James left her with unanswered questions. Swift’s extensive use of the past tense in the lyrics, such as “slipped,” “were,” “was,” and “pulled,” indicates that their relationship has ended, leaving August with no explanations.
First, it should be understood that Augustine was James’s “summer fling.” Swift began the song with “Salt air, and the rust on your door,” proving that Augustine lives near a beach during the summer and that the summer wind might easily rust the door. The phrase “August slipped away into a moment in time” could be another piece of evidence that their romance lasted during the summer months, with August being the month they split up or a short form of the name Augustine. Due to the fact that Augustine did not attend the same school as James, her actual age remains a bit of a mystery. The line “when you’re back at school” considers the possibility that she is older than James or attending a different school than he does.
The structure of this song demonstrates that Augustine is not the primary antagonist in the love narrative.
James was the one responsible for destroying his personal relationship with Augustine. The purity, infidelity, and intimacy of Augustine’s relationship with James are supported using “whispers,” “I never needed anything more,” and the fact that the couple was “twisted in bedsheets.”
In addition, Swift masterfully cultivated an aspect of an unhealthy and toxic relationship in Augustine’s narrative. “Cancel plans just in case you’d call / And say, “Meet me behind the mall” / So much for summer love and saying us,” “Cause you weren’t mine to lose,” the chorus lyrics suggest that Augustine is becoming a reclusive figure who relies on secret meetings and phone calls from James. It appears that Augustine’s connection with James was private and full of secrecy. However, there was evidence that Augustine did hope that she would be submitted into a committed relationship, as suggested by the lyric, “Will you call when you’re back at school?” and “I remember thinking I had you.” Furthermore, the lyrics “Remember when I pulled up and said, “Get in the car,” “Wanting was enough,” and “Cause you weren’t mine to lose” demonstrate that she did persuade James that their relationship was worthwhile and that Augustine was hopeful and would not let him go. However, when the song came to an end, it hinted that neither party deserved the other. Augustine sacrificed all to love James, but her efforts were hindered by the fact that he loves someone else. Hence, there is no happy ending after all.
Betty: One Man’s Betrayal Leads to a Man’s Repentance
“Betty” is the fourteenth track on the album and is taken from James’s perspective. This song serves as the second part of the trilogy and is the only one from a male perspective. The song tells the story of a man who expresses guilt by defending himself and desiring the repair of a relationship out of regret. James’s perspective is displayed in the present and is used to explain his position in the love triangle.
To clarify his age in the love triangle trilogy, he mentions things he had and did during his teenage years, such as “homeroom” and “riding my skateboard.” From a broader perspective, James could be viewed as a manipulator because he used his youth as an excuse for his unfaithful behaviour while attempting to reclaim Betty. Supported by the line “I’m only seventeen; I don’t know anything, but I know I miss you,” James is attempting to garner sympathy in his own story, even though he knows the things he has done are unforgivable.
In addition, he is portrayed as a “villain” in the trilogy because he attempts to place blame on Betty and Augustine. In the song, James is pictured attending a party and criticising Betty’s decision as a way to defend his actions. He told Betty, “I saw you dance with him,” implying that his decision to cheat on her was influenced by her dancing with another man who could be her friend. Moreover, he blames Augustine for being the reason he cheated on Betty, as suggested by the lines “just thinking of you when she pulled up, like a figment of my worst intentions, she said, “James, get in, let’s drive, those days turned into nights,” which clarify “she” as Augustine.
The word “she” in the song represents the under-appreciation of Augustine.
His attempts to shift blame to female characters demonstrate patriarchy and egocentrism, indicating that he made his decision primarily because of how the girls behaved.
As evidenced by the lyrics “Betty, I won’t make assumptions about / why you switched your homeroom / but I think it’s because of me” and “The worst thing that I ever did / Was what I did to you,” he expresses his guilt to Betty and wishes his relationship with Augustine had never occurred. In the lines “In the garden, would you trust me / If I told you, it was just a summer thing? / I’m only seventeen / I don’t know anything / But I miss you,” shows that he is also attempting to defend his past action. To make matters worse, he admitted that Augustine played no role in his life, as evidenced by the line, “I slept next to her [Augustine], but I dreamt of you all summer long.” James was remorseful about his decision to cheat on Betty while also being bold enough to discuss an intimate aspect of his relationship with August that should have remained private. He attempts to demonstrate that Augustine, the antagonist in the trilogy, was unacceptable.
As the song concludes, he appears to wish for a return to his previous circumstances with Betty, saying, “Standing in your cardigan / Kissin’ in my car again / Stopped at a streetlight / You know I miss you”. Overall, with the title “Betty,” it is evident that this song is an apology to Betty. The question of whether Betty accepted his apology will be answered from Betty’s perspective in Cardigan. Consequently, it is essential to note that Augustine’s story was left hanging in this song, and the audience should wish her well.
“Cardigan”: Win-And-Lose War With “Betty”
“Cardigan” is the second track on the album and serves as the ending to this trilogy. Swift intended for the listeners to become familiar with Betty (the character focused on in “Cardigan”) earlier than the others, as her story is essential to the completion of the love triangle, as she, too, was betrayed by James. Moreover, the context of this song addresses youth love, which is often difficult to forget. This song tells the story of Betty, who is aware of the discrepancy between James’s behaviour and what she has recognised but is swayed by his love. It is a story of losing love and reclaiming it. Throughout the song, Betty is remembering her previous relationship with James “20 to 30 years later” to her younger self. The lyrics’ usage of the past tense also suggests that James is simply a bittersweet memory for Betty.
Swift began the song with the lyrics, “Vintage tee, brand new phone / When you are young, they assume you know nothing / Sequin smile, black lipstick / Sensual politics,” which depicts adolescent life in which they are underestimated by society based on their appearance and political opinions, echoing Wordsworth’s concept of romanticism. In contrast to the opening verse, Betty demonstrates her maturity throughout the song by clarifying what she knew about James’s behaviour when she was younger. “But I knew you / Dancing in your Levi’s / Drunk under a streetlight” and “Cause I knew everything when I was young” demonstrate Betty’s memory of previous relationship experiences, indicating maturity. Betty is refusing to excuse James’s behaviour because of his age, as he was clearly aware of what he was doing despite being “only seventeen.”
Then, Betty describes the downfall of her relationship in the chorus through the lines “A friend to all is a friend to none / Chase two girls, lose the one” and “You drew stars around my scars / But now I’m bleeding.” These lines demonstrate that Betty recognises that James cheated on her. In addition, she mentions that James was “playing hide and seek,” referring to the fact that he was concealing information from her. She was, however, contradictory in her explanation of how James destroyed their relationship, using phrases like “Because I knew you / Stepping on the last train / Marked me like a bloodstain,” “Tried to change the ending / Peter losing Wendy,” and “Leaving like a father, Running like water.” Instead of leaving James, she was persuaded that he was attempting to win her back, as evidenced by the lyrics, “I knew you’d miss me once the thrill expired / And you’d be standing in my front porch light / And I knew you’d come back to me,” which indicate that they did reconcile. Ironically, despite constantly criticising James’s behaviour, she included intimate references to their relationship, such as “hand under my sweatshirt, baby kiss it better.”
The metaphor of the ending, “And when I felt like an old cardigan under someone’s bed, you put me on and said I was your favourite” represents James’ preference for Betty over Augustine, which is an answer Augustine did not receive in “August.”
Nonetheless, upon closer analysis, Betty is not currently with James.
Betty’s statement, “I knew you,” clarifies a past event. The line “I knew you, tried to change the ending, Peter losing Wendy” is intended to bolster the notion that their relationship failed by implying that James may cheat on Betty again after rekindling his relationship with her. This entire account from Betty’s perspective may indicate that she and Augustine were in a cycle of unhealthy relationships. She was aware James had cheated on her, but she was convinced the relationship was special. Betty erred by loving James deeply, and her relationship with him left her with a bloodstain, making it difficult for her to move on.
Discussion : Why the Love Triangle Resonates in People’s Hearts
Due to the inclusion of the trilogy on the album Folklore, the love triangle manages to capture the hearts of the public. To relate the connection between Romanticism and how the songs resonate easily with the listeners, we must go back to one characteristic of Romanticism: a celebration of isolation. Wordsworth stresses the need to appreciate silence and melancholy to understand romance in different tales of stories. Folklore was released during a pandemic when many of us were confined to our homes, forced to isolate ourselves and struggling with our thoughts. To survive in isolation, people tend to live in the same place without interacting with others outside of the building, creating a sense of nostalgia. The pandemic causes us to drown in our own thoughts and create what-if scenarios. When the audience listens to the trilogy, they may reflect on a previous relationship or their younger selves in school. Thus, the trilogy acts as a connection between the listeners’ past and their current imagination.
Moreover, with the rise of freedom of speech in modern times, the need to express one’s feelings is becoming more popular and widely accepted in the media. The songs in the love triangle act as a bridge to express humans’ complex emotions and opinions on how the world works. The songs in the love triangle address toxic masculinity, oppression towards women, capitalism, and politics among youth suggested by Wordsworth in his understanding of Romanticism.
Hence, the songs manage to not only retell a simple love story but also serve as a symbol of complexity in the modern world to which all listeners with different backgrounds and ideologies can easily relate.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Wordsworth’s idea of Romanticism has enabled songwriters to convey love in a more emotive manner while maintaining quality. It has been demonstrated that his legacy of Romanticism has enabled individuals to view the definition of love from a variety of angles, which could be utilised to create high-quality love songs. Swift’s work on Folklore’s love triangle deserves to win the hearts of many listeners, and more importantly, she has successfully reintroduced the Romanticism era into our contemporary culture.
Swift’s songwriting abilities were elevated by Wordsworth’s legacy, which also reintroduced several themes that are rarely addressed in love songs.
The trilogy demonstrates that love songs are capable of more than simply conveying feelings via actions and words; they can also connect untold stories through different timelines and characters. The narrative of Betty, James, and Augustine has been crafted in a way that makes the music accessible to all types of listeners. Despite the toxicity of their relationship, Betty and James were able to remain together for a short time despite Augustine’s unanticipated demise, demonstrating how love can blind us in real life. The story helped Swift win Album of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, which shows that regardless of whether they were joyful or sad, all the characters’ stories were praised and given credit for the win. In the end, everyone had a happy ending, and their stories spread around the world and resonated in people’s hearts.
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