I don't believe "arc" implies redundant repetition, it implies a curve, a heightening, finalizing in a new destination. In the case of a character arc, something builds from a certain point, then resolves, ending up somewhere new.

From what I can remember, in Shakespear's THE TEMPEST - Variations on Prospero's desire for revenge play in aspect in almost every scene, then by the end he's past the need for revenge and has taken an interest in reconciliation.

Or a more contemporary example... In ALIENS, for instance, one could make a case that Ripley has an arc the revolves around the issue of "responsibility". These issues are addressed not just once, but throughout in every act. They are addressed not monotonously but with vacillation: Ripley has taken great responsibility in the past and has gotten burned. Now she shuns it and is alone, without purpose, cut off from everyone. She is a shell of a person. She refuses responsibility through much of the first act. Then after several scenes, accepts it in a limited form. Throughout the film, the level of responsibly that is demanded of her, and that she is willing to embrace is increased, until she practically adopts Newt as her own daughter, and takes full responsibly for Newt's life, putting her own (and everyone else's) in jeopardy to save her. At the end of the movie her awesome embracing of responsibility is rewarded. She saves Newt and now has something like a family. We know she has changed, she will never walk away from her responsibly to look after Newt. She's better now, despite the horror of her experiences.

I was trying to think about really good movies about shy people. "Who Am I This Time?" is a great example. Until after the climax of the film, Christopher Walken is shown as painfully shy every time he's off stage.