The purpose of the reversal in a Shakespearean sonnet is to emphasize the volta, which is a turning point or shift in the poem. It marks a change in the tone, topic, or argument of the sonnet and adds a sense of surprise or contrast. The volta typically occurs at the start of the third quatrain or, less commonly, in the couplet at the end. This reversal helps bring new insights or perspectives to the poem and adds complexity to the overall meaning.
